Hopi Kooyemsi, Mudhead Katsina Doll from the Fred Harvey Collection [SOLD]

This Hopi Pueblo carving of a Mudhed katsina is extraordinary in positioning and action, an indication of an experienced carver.  It is accurate in detail with the exception that this katsina wears a black scarf around his neck,which is missing here, and has round knobs as ears and on top and in the back of the mask.  In this carving, the maker chose to use a wood dowel for the ears and not add the other knobs.  There is no logical explanation for these omissions except it was the carver’s choice.

The carving is mounted on a square black wood platform of the style used by the Fred Harvey Company on many of its katsina dolls.  There are no other identifying markings to indicate a Fred Harvey provenance, however the doll is part of the collection with that provenance. The doll is in very good condition.

Relative Links: Kachina – Katsina Doll, Hopi Pueblo, Fred Harvey Company