identifying kachina dollsidentifying kachina dolls

The dances performed by men and boys are an integral part of Hopi life and culture. They often hold the tools or props associated with their Katsinam. Cultural ceremonies are still held, but on weekends when people are less busy. Crow mother - Watching over children in their play, the crow mother has a headdress with crow wings. The Hopi tribe believes that cottonwood trees have spiritual power because they always grow next to a source of watereven in the driest clime. They depict the spirit that helps the fallen rise back up. Native American Navajo Made Crow Mother Kachina Doll. Collectible Toys From Antique to Contemporary. You can find a large collection of Hopi Kachina dolls at the Heard Museum in Phoenix and the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles. Each child receives a doll made especially for him by his male relatives. The Hopi use the term katsinato refer to the spiritual beings and the dolls. At the same time, the glued dolls have their eyeballs carved separately. Other noticeable facial features include the ears, which appear large with red paint, feathers, bird wings, hair, and horns. There are close to a thousand different types of Kachinas, many of which are no longer known or danced; some of these earliest dolls cannot be identified. Most collectors associate Kachina dolls with those made by the Hopi, as they had the most active carvers. nanystreasures. However, the Kachina dolls have specific characteristics that are very useful for identifying them: When pricing Kachina dolls, you must keep in mind that the ones made with only a wood piece are the most valuable. The word kachina refers to powerful, spiritual beings of the Pueblo Villages of the American Southwest. Tribes of the Southwest believed that aspects of nature could be personified by Ketsinam. Then there are the Putstihu taywayla, which are designed for toddlers. First, the dolls had more realistic body proportions and were easier to distinguish between body parts. These dolls were carved to represent people, insects, animals, birds, plants, and popular forces of nature. Kachina dolls gained popularity in the late 1800s after Dr. Palmer, a U.S. Army surgeon, collected a kachina doll and presented it to the National Museum. Feathers from protected species, such as the eagle, were banned from use in the production of kachina dolls and other ornaments in the 1970s. However, it is uncommon to find dolls made prior to the 20th century, especially those with a well-documented history. Theres a prominent black ogre kachina doll, known as Chaveyo or Natask, with a black head, spikes, and big eyeballs. eBay, in particular, allows traders to create or participate in auctions. Identifying Kachina Dolls Overall whitewash. These are all made from high quality materials by famous Native American artists and priced at some of thebest prices in the industry. If you pay attention to the symbols, you may notice that these are not there just for decoration. Not long after the Kachina dolls were being created for sales across the southwest in the late 1800s, tourists became interested in knowing more about the Native American culture. Handheld objects or props, such as rattles, knives, and tools. Kachina dolls have become popular with many people outside the Native American community. Numerous well-known artists in the early 20th century traveled to the region to capture the people and their dances. It's like a ring on a nose's pig, like the good book would say. Guide to Hopi Kachina Dolls. Aholi Kachina is a beautiful doll that usually appears with a tall blue helmet and a colorful cloak consisting of colors that represents the flowers and the essence of summer and the likeness of Muyingwa, the Germ God. Detailed painting of decorations and facial features. 3. The first doll I bought was an older one with Hopi maiden hair. Hopi Kachinas: The Complete Guide to Collecting Kachina Dolls by Wright, Barton . More often than not, Kachina dolls are usually depicted as dancing around a fire during the night, although this doesn't always necessarily have to be the case. Original, untouched condition is desirable, especially if the piece is in excellent condition. Not all Kachina carvers from the early 20th century represented specific Kachinas; a famous example is Wilson Tawaquaptewa's (1871-1960) work. Most one-piece kachina dolls have round, half-moons, pot-hooks, or rectangular painted eyes. $32.00. According to legend, parents ask the Soyok Kachina to help discipline their kids. Detailed painting of decorations and facial features. Walsh names his favorite carvers, and explains why the dolls are no longer called "kachina" in English. Another great resource to purchase all forms of Kachina dolls is Kachina House. Even if the Kachina is signed, each carver puts his own personal touch on his work, making the process of figuring out the Kachina [] These tribes believe that the different aspects of nature can be possessed or personified by the spirits of the dolls. Hoop dancer - This entertainer holds hoops and amuses audiences. Many pages of line drawings of Kachina doll heads with descriptions of each Kachina's typical clothing and accessories are included in the book. Details can tell whether it is worth it or not. 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Specific features such as eyes, hair styles, noses, etc. These Kachinas sometimes have bows or yucca whips. Powamui Kachina dances at the Bean Dance c.1910-20. The rings represent the circle of life.. In the same manner, as these small wooden dolls have accessories related to the Katsinam chosen for the ceremony, the dolls can use other kinds of accessories like rattles, bows, and arrows, which are fabricated with pumpkins, staffs, corn, among others. China doll is a doll made out of glazed porcelain. If you can find the manufacturer mark, or maker's mark, on your old doll, it will give you the most important information needed to identify the doll. Because of these and other daring changes made since then, the price of kachina dolls has skyrocketed and is now priced between $10 and $10,000. There were no defined arms or body parts, fingers were joined together, and heads were not distinguishable from the bodies. This figure had a very undistinguishable appearance, with possibly, a head and minimal body paint. This price range is not unusual, and rare or large Kachina dolls in good original condition can bring into the low six figures; exceptional examples have brought over a $100,000. animal horns to their dolls to make them more, Antique Dolls: Identification & Values Guide, 14 Rarest Cabbage Patch Dolls: Value and Price Guide, 15 Most Valuable Vintage Porcelain Dolls Worth A Fortune, Things Youll Remember If You Grew Up With Troll Dolls, Antique Bamboo Fly Rod Identification and Value Guide, Antique End Table Value and Identification Guide, Sports Memorabilia Price and Identification Guide, Olympia Typewriter: History, Models, and Value, Most Valuable Antique Swords: Identification & Valuation, How to Identify Victorian Furniture Styles, Goebel Figurines: Marks, Identification, and Value, Where to Sell Beanie Babies: Tips for Selling, Vintage Skateboards Identification and Value Guide, Vintage Raleigh Bikes: History, Models, Value, Vintage John Deere Toy Tractor Value Guide, Vintage Huffy Bike Model: Identification and Value Guide, Value of Collectible Barbie Dolls: Complete Price Guide, Toy Monkey With Cymbals: History, Meaning, and Value. [more like this] Antique Hopi Kachina dolls cannot be in new condition, as age must have affected them. Kachina dolls are physical representations of these spirits. They sought to teach the new generations about their wisdom and culture, as the dolls were elaborated according to the imagery of supernatural beings worshipped by the tribe; these were not toys but religious icons to celebrate and contemplate often with dances while the dancers hold the doll in their hands. Have you ever thought about how much your kachina doll was worth? Hemis, in essence, serves to increase ones luck and encourage good fortune. Was: $39.00. Valuation: Determining the value of vintage Kachina dolls (1880-1940) is dependant on many variables; one factor includes pieces created before the 20th century, which are rare and generally the most valuable. When assessing the condition, here are some pointers that suggest your kachina dolls are fake or not as old as they are claimed to be. There were no distinctive features, and only the facial features would indicate that it was a kachina doll. We have earlier discussed different types of kachina dolls. Wear: Inspect the doll for wear in places that make sense. Chamberlain College of Nursing . This valuation is expected for usual, rare, or large dolls in pristine condition. These include exaggerated rabbit ears, lines of black dots along the body parts, and vivid primary colors. As a result, the majority of dolls made during this period had rough surfaces and noticeable flaws, some of which were poorly concealed with kaolin clay. In a collection or array of kachinas, the Hemis doll is usually the tallest and most colorful, due in part to its tablet (head-dress). Always get the provenance in writing as part of the history of the doll. The Heard Museum in Phoenix also has a large collection of both vintage and contemporary dolls for viewing, as well as some contemporary Hopi dolls for sale. Authentic Kachina dolls were produced from the roots of cottonwood trees. During this trip, he captured the Hopi societies with paint and pencil. On the other hand, the figurines from 1945 onward started to wear real clothes made out of fox fabric or similar materials of good quality. Butterfly Maiden Kachina Doll: The Palhik Mana, or Butterfly Maiden, is one of the most popular kachinas, which is beautifully dressed and usually not masked. Cross-section of the Hopi Kachina Dolls in The Heard Museum, Phoenix. The value of an antique kachina doll is dependent on multiple factors, including the type, age, size, condition, rarity, and provenance. It is observed in late January or early February and lasts 8 days. Wood, Clothing, and Condition: Historic Hopi Kachina dolls will almost always be made out of cottonwood root, which is a very lightweight wood. Facial Traits: There are only two types of eyes in the Kachina dolls. Other decorations include hand-painted or metal jewelry, unusual facial features, ruff around the neck, furs or feathers, and a few times handheld objects or props. Although the production of a kachina doll began as a cultural practice, it has become increasingly commercialized. Regular Price: $935.98. The majority of these dolls are made by Native Americans due to their cultural significance. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The earliest set of dolls produced was carved in one piece. Clothing that is painted on or created from fabric. The last is the Tithu; this is meant for Hopi girls aged 2 and up. In a way they're like statues of saints. He appears in a role very similar to that of Nakiachop or Talavai, standing to the side with a spruce tree in his left hand and a bell in his right. However, we can bet that youll unknowingly come across at least two fake Hopi Kachina dolls. If your doll has a historic mineral pigment, it could be one of the oldest dolls as these colors are very difficult to imitate or reproduce. When the first kachina dolls were produced in the 1800s, they were straightforward in structure and plain in design. Browse through our most extraordinary collection of dainty, colorful and symbolicKachina Dolls. Here are two pearls of wisdom: If you are being offered multiple old dolls from a single collection, look to see if any of the dolls have identical color usage and carving style that would indicate the same carvers hand. We trust youve learnt the fundamentals of the Hopi Kachina dolls embedded in this article. As there has not been a particular manufacturing company producing them, the natives have been the ones making them over the years. Hopi Kachina imagery has been an iconic symbol of the Southwest ever since the railroads first made their way across the region in the 1880s. Check the Collectible Kachina Dolls as well as Vintage Barbie Dolls. The diverse Kachina dolls history can be traced back hundreds of years across several tribes, including the Zuni and Pueblo tribes. On various ceremonial occasions, the Hopi priests and men visit this sacred land and discreet underground kivas to offer the ceremonial dances to the Spirits. Native American Navajo Made Butterfly Kachina Doll. The Putsqatihu is made specifically for baby girls usually under a year old. Also, it is important to note that figurines of this era could only be hung on walls; there was no need to create standing figures at the time. However, the process gets noticeably difficult in valuating the intended piece. Dixons the Kachina Maker," depicts a male carver putting the final touches on a Kachina doll at Walpi. Small wooden dolls carved in the likenesses of the various Katsinam are used to help teach Hopi children their spiritual practices and traditions. Keep in mind that an original Kachina doll possesses a carved figure with poplar's root since it is a wood easy to carve. Research your dolls provenance in writing to make batter returns from the sale. Sublette, M. "Deciphering Katsina: How to Identify Vintage Katsina Dolls." Native American Art, February/March 2018, pp. Instead of the intricate carvings, these replicas are crudely formed, non-descript, decorated with copious amounts of chicken feathers, and glued to a base displaying a non-Hopi sounding name. Wood and stone objects are the easiest types of materials for forgers to work with, so Kachinas are a good target, though most forgers are rarely historically correct with materials and simply look for an easy mark. People from outside the tribe use the word Kachina to describe the spirits that are central to the Hopi religion. Fine scrape marks made from sandpaper along the face or areas that would not normally occur from handling are red flags, especially if the so-called damage has a consistent appearance. These dolls have evolved since then, and are divided into two distinct periods based on their styles. Some older dolls with mineral pigment can be found in the Millicent Rogers Museum, the Heard Museum, and the Northern Arizona Museum. During Kachina dances, Heluta is always the first to appear. We believe that after reading this article, you will be able to do so. Kachina dolls first received widespread attention by Western visitors to the desert Southwest in the late 1800s and early 1900s CE, but as previously noted, they have existed for hundreds of years. They are flat figures with just enough distinguishing characteristics to identify them as kachina dolls. Kachina Doll Buffalo Warrior 16" high signed handmade Kachina Native American figurine. 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