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Katsina doll
Arizona
Carved by Hopi Chief
Wilson Tawaquaptewa, Oraibi (1873-1960)
Circa 1930s
Carved wood (cottonwood), pigments
Height: 10 ½ in. – 26 cm
Provenance
Private collection, USA, acquired in the 1970s
By family descent
Collection Anne Morizon, London
Sold
Kachina dolls (or katsinam) represent spirits or gods from the pantheon of the Pueblo peoples in the American Southwest. Given to children, kachina dolls constituted a pedagogical tool allowing them to familiarize themselves with the spiritual world and perpetuating knowledge of the founding myths on which their society was based.
This Katsina doll is the work of a Hopi master carver, Wilson Tawaquaptewa (1873-1960).
Oraibi chief W. Tawaquaptewa was both a prominent a spiritual and political Hopi leader; he is also celebrated as one of the greatest Katsina doll carvers.
A major exhibition of W. Tawaquaptewa's works was notably presented a few years ago at the Birmingham Museum of Art (Alabama, USA).
The color palette on this doll is typical of this artist's works.
For more information on this sculptor, please refer to the chapter “The Unique Katsinam of Wilson Tawaquaptewa” in the book "L'Appel des Kachinas - Katsina Calling", pages 60 to 72 (B. Walsh, J. Flak, 2024).
This Katsina doll is the work of a Hopi master carver, Wilson Tawaquaptewa (1873-1960).
Oraibi chief W. Tawaquaptewa was both a prominent a spiritual and political Hopi leader; he is also celebrated as one of the greatest Katsina doll carvers.
A major exhibition of W. Tawaquaptewa's works was notably presented a few years ago at the Birmingham Museum of Art (Alabama, USA).
The color palette on this doll is typical of this artist's works.
For more information on this sculptor, please refer to the chapter “The Unique Katsinam of Wilson Tawaquaptewa” in the book "L'Appel des Kachinas - Katsina Calling", pages 60 to 72 (B. Walsh, J. Flak, 2024).
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