Hopi Talavai Katsina Exiting Kiva [SOLD]

According to Barton Wright, “The Talavai Kachina formerly appeared in pairs on the rooftops and sang songs, waking the people in the village. During the day they would dance with the other kachinas that they led and prompted in the singing. This role is no longer used in any of the villages. They still appear with the other Kachinas in the Powamu Ceremony and are most often standing in a set to one side of the main movement of the procession.”

In this painting, Naha has pictured the Talavai exiting the kiva with gifts for the children. Traditionally, katsina dolls are gifts for the girls and bow and arrows and gourd rattles for the boys. Young Hopi children are standing around in anticipation.

As usual, Naha did a superb job of rendering each single item. His attention to the minutest details is evident in all his work. This is an exceptional painting and in original excellent condition.

Provenance: From the personal collection of Frances Balcomb, owner of Balcomb’s Gallery, at one time located in Arizona, then Taos, Gallup, and Albuquerque, but closed since 1976.