Unidentified Hopi Pueblo Cottonwood Katsina Doll from the Fred Harvey Collection [SOLD]

This katsina doll carving appears to be a legitimate Hopi Pueblo carving but does not represent a known Hopi katsina.  It was perhaps made and painted to look authentic but with markings that are not accurate.  Some older katsina doll carvers deliberately made changes to dolls they were making for sale so that they would not be compromising their religious beliefs by releasing to non-Hopi buyers a true ceremonial katsina doll.  This is known to have been the case with some of the older men who had strong Hopi beliefs. 

The carving was executed beautifully as was the painting, however, there are no identifying traits to associate with a known katsina.  The ears appear to have been made from a wood dowel rather than by carving.  He 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.

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