Hopi Pueblo Late Nineteenth or Early Twentieth Century Buffalo Katsina Doll [SOLD]

It is rare to find a pueblo katsina doll of this vintage on the market today for such a reasonable price.  This Hopi Pueblo Buffalo Katsina doll has been estimated to date to circa 1900, plus or minus a decade. The green color is mineral paint, the white may be kaolin, the red is mineral and the black is likely of mineral source.

The bulging eyes and horns are added items and are original to the carving.  The remainder of the carving is from a single piece of wood. This doll was originally purchased by the previous owner from Rare Things by Dutton in Santa Fe in the 1970s.  

The body of the doll was painted with a red mineral pigment, over which are white marks on his chest, a black loin cloth, and green mineral pigment on the body.  The buffalo’s head is tilted up, his arms are tucked to his stomach, his butt is sculpted and his calf muscles delineated. The carver did an exceptional job in carving and painting.

Condition: this Hopi Pueblo Late Nineteenth or Early Twentieth Century Buffalo Katsina Doll is in very good condition with one foot glued and overall paint abrasions due to age.

Provenance: from a gentleman from Santa Fe.  Previously from Rare Things By Dutton in Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Kachinas an Evolving Hopi Art Form? By Jon T. Erickson, 1977

Relative Links: Hopi Pueblo, Katsina