North America | New Mexico
Katsina doll
New Mexico
Shalako Katsina – Shalako Bird Katsina doll
Zuni
New Mexico, USA
Carved wood, pigments, wool, fabrics
Circa 1920-1930
Height: 41 cm – 16 ¼ in.
Provenance
Collection Traphagen School Museum, New York
Sotheby’s New York, 28 Nov. 1989, lot 47
Collection Morgan & Gerald Piltzer, Switzerland, acquired at the above sale
Zuni Shalako Katsina doll Traphagen / Galerie Flak
Price: on request
This carved figure depicts Shalako, one of the most important Kachina (Katsina) spirits in the Zuni pantheon.
The Zuni ceremonial cycle is centered around planting and harvesting. It culminates in early December with the entrance of the Shalakos, or Couriers of the Gods, in tall, feathered costumes topped by headdresses. All day and night Shalakos enter homes dancing and chanting, and receive bountiful amounts of food from each host.
As noted by Barton Wright in “Esprit Kachina”, 2003, six Shalakos can come during the winter ceremony. They are nearly ten feet tall and their arrival is announced by the Little Fire God, Shulawitsi. They dance in houses that are newly constructed or renovated conferring their blessings on the place.
When the Shalakos leave the village, it signals the end of one cycle and the renewal of another.
The Zuni ceremonial cycle is centered around planting and harvesting. It culminates in early December with the entrance of the Shalakos, or Couriers of the Gods, in tall, feathered costumes topped by headdresses. All day and night Shalakos enter homes dancing and chanting, and receive bountiful amounts of food from each host.
As noted by Barton Wright in “Esprit Kachina”, 2003, six Shalakos can come during the winter ceremony. They are nearly ten feet tall and their arrival is announced by the Little Fire God, Shulawitsi. They dance in houses that are newly constructed or renovated conferring their blessings on the place.
When the Shalakos leave the village, it signals the end of one cycle and the renewal of another.
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