Hopi Pueblo Hemis Katsina Doll [SOLD]

The Hemis Katsina is probably the most beautiful and best known of all Hopi Katsinas. His elaborate headdress, called a tableta, is partly responsible for his beauty. His body is painted with black corn smut with light colored half moons on the chest and on both legs. He wears a kilt, and around his waist is a Hopi embroidered rain sash. The tableta is painted with phallic and cloud symbols and capped with feathers.

This katsina appears in the Home Dance or Niman Ceremony. No other katsinas, neither clowns nor side dancers appear with the line of Hemis except the Hemis Manas.

It is interesting to note that at Hopi, they refer to the Hemis Katsina as having come from the Rio Grande Jemez Pueblo of New Mexico. At Jemez Pueblo, they refer to a similar dance as a Hopi dance.

It appears that this carving was presented to a young girl who was allowed to lovingly play with it rather that hang it from the rafters of the home.  It appears that it may have been used during teething or just during playing as most of the paint has been worn off.  Some of the wood is missing and the wood has taken on a rich and smooth patina from many years of being held.

Provenance: To be provided to purchaser