Zuni Pueblo Little Fire God - Shulawitsi Katsina Doll [SOLD]

Shulawitsi is almost an exact duplicate of the Hopi Kokosori, but he is not related to Kokosori.  A young boy who is innocent and pure of heart usually performs him. He carries a fire stick, signifying his responsibility as caretaker of one of the important physical elements of the universe: fire. He is responsible for lighting fires before the Shalako ceremony prior to the winter solstice. The lighting of these fires is the signal for the Shalako to begin their ritual.

The Zuni Pueblo artisan has done a good job portraying this representation. In his right hand he holds the cedar bark torch used to light the ceremonial fires. In his left hand, he holds a pahos, a prayer stick.  His body is painted black with dots of the colors of the four cardinal directions—red, yellow, white and blue. There are small bits of turquoise on the chest, back, and arm to portray jewelry.

Condition: this Zuni Pueblo Little Fire God - Shulawitsi Katsina Doll is in excellent condition

Provenance: from the extensive katsina doll collection of a family from Oklahoma who purchased it at the Case Trading Post of the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe in 1980.

Recommended Reading: Kachinas of the Zuni by Barton Wright.