Hopi Pueblo Tuma-uyi (White Chin) Katsina Doll [SOLD]

This doll is very beautifully carved with excellent body and mask proportions. He is simple in stature but impressive in execution of carving and painting. His right leg was broken just below the skirt and has been glued.

Tuma-uyi is one of the very old Hopi Katsinas. He is not often seen at dances anymore but was a prominent figure a century ago. His Hopi name translates to“white chin” which is achieved by the use of white clay on the chin of the dancer.

Jimmie Koots is a well-known carver of Katsina dolls in the Santa Fe area because his dolls were featured at a shop called Rare Things by Dutton in downtown Santa Fe for years and years. His full name is James Kootshongsie. He had a fascinating life and we have printed information from the book “Hopi Katsina 1,600 Artist Biographies” by Greg Schaaf. To see this biography, click on the artist’s name just below the picture of the Katsina doll.

Provenance: From the estate of Transcendental artist Florence Pierce of Albuquerque who passed away in 2007 at the age of 89.