identifying kachina dollsidentifying kachina dolls

The Navajo Kachina dolls are crafted with care and are made to represent a variety of spirits and deities within the Navajo culture. You must take a good-quality, clear picture of the mark for identification before anything else. Parian Dolls Not-tinted white porcelain held excellent decorative value. Photographs of Kachina dolls date back to the 1800s, during the early exploration of the West, evident in both Hopi and Zuni tribes. Nothing is more disappointing than spending good money on a doll only to find that it is not authentic and has no real value. Dishonest sellers often try to trade heavily or visibly worn-out dolls for antiques. WebThe Navajo people began making their own Kachina dolls in the 20th century, adding their own decorative elements, including beads and turquoise. Native American Navajo Made Aholi Chief Kachina Doll. Specific body designation to hold any literal or hidden meaning. Identifying Kachina Dolls Overall whitewash. [4] Following the ceremony, the figures are hung on the walls of the pueblo and are meant to be studied in order to learn the characteristics of that certain Kachina. Kachina dolls are symbols of American Indian religion that evolved into collectible heirlooms of a complex cultural belief system. The precise answer stands pretty long, requiring you to dig deep enough to reach the conclusion. WebNative American Hopi Carved Heheya Katsina Doll. In a way they're like statues of saints. The late Dr. Harold S. Colton identified 266 different Katsina dolls, and in this book he describes the meaning, the making, and the principal features of all of them. Only men are allowed to personify the Kachinas. The collections are simply priceless. Heyoka is a Native American word meaning sacred clown or fool. Regular mass-produced kachina dolls cost less than $500 most times. Women carvers are becoming more common, making miniature dolls that are especially popular in the trade. They are known as the Wuyak-kuita, Angwus ( Crow Man), or the Wupamo. It hosts several kinds of American Indian art, including its music. An ancient and rare Kachina sold for $250,000. 2022 - 2023 Times Mojo - All Rights Reserved P10yE%SWz"wU}=*0llo9)KT~j'r[RaMKZ%n=UM7UY ["E'!sy_$T2 :kw+$X4d>N4iG/U@PdL~{ )="13U|bw On"*oF]]yh HOtN16cl:'d)(t:`RD4qSHX*ykPml+U7U1/zi~ j 1Bl/--!4hJmtJIeW&WE U^ 5R6N!Lz:IN The first step is to become familiar with the elements that identify the authentic Hopi doll; whether it is a highly detailed fine art kachina or a simple old-style doll painted with mineral pigments, the basic features will remain the same. $1,000.00 $1,500.00. The rarest kachina dolls have no fingers. The community to specializes in antique dolls remains the best resource to satisfy your quest. oWCJit-p?Fc!Tl]@8qdSA%UtEm84$B2_`]v5fi]pS'G$fDs//_"Z0!{rU2q4j *KZ In addition, headdresses are sometimes worn on the heads of the dolls. Either the appraiser undervalued it or is trying to purchase a scarce doll. $800.00 $1,200.00. Defined materials or/and particular specifications for the body. In uncommon cases, they could be adorned with calico or hard spun cotton clothes. Some of todays Hopi people see Kachina dolls as a bridge between Hopis and non-Hopis. And collectors to despise/avoid the two kinds often hits a disappointing end. The art of carving kachina dolls has evolved from the old-style blocklike figures into today's highly detailed, all-wood dolls with realistic form and action. Clothing that is painted on or created from fabric. Antique Wood Stove Identification And Values Guide, Antique Tools: Identification & Values Guide, Antique Cash Registers: Identification & Values Guide, Antique Salt and Pepper Shaker: Identification & Values Guide, Antique Drop Leaf Table Styles, Values and Identification Guide, Antique Dining Chairs Styles, Values And Identification Guide, Antique Chest of Drawers Identification and Values Guide, Treadle Sewing Machine: History, Brands, and Value Guide, Antique German China: History, Brands, and Marks, Antique Flow Blue China: Patterns and Value Guide, Vintage Linens (Identification and Value Guide), Vintage Luggage: Brands, Identification, and Buying Guide, White Sewing Machine 101: Everything you need to know. Some older dolls with mineral pigment can be found in the Millicent Rogers Museum, the Heard Museum, and the Northern Arizona Museum. Commercial and poster paints were used and the regalia became more organic, as some of the dolls were dressed in real clothing instead of clothing that was merely painted on. Unscrupulous vintage items sellers have made it a norm to pass off old-style carved dolls as antiques or vintages. Come back when you're older. Kachina dolls have different unique wears. Only one piece of cottonwood root was used to carve the body, although facial features made from varying sources were occasionally glued on. [35] Animal tracks, bird tracks, celestial symbols, and vegetable symbols represent those particular spirits. How to identify older-looking dolls in terms of genuine antiquity for proper valuation? Kachina dolls, also knowns as katsina dolls, are symbolic and ceremonial Native American gifts.

The Omowuh doll represents the rain bringers. Conversely, the Kachina masks, costumes, and ritual objects used during Kachina festivals have profound religious significance for the Hopi and should not be considered simply as art. $1,600.00 $2,400.00. The Chasing Star kachina doll represents the stars and planets. There are at least 400 different Kachinas that hold cultural and spiritual value in the Hopi and Pueblo tribes. Also, check if the carving is one piece or has different parts all glued together. WebHaving had the opportunity to purchase nine kachina dolls purportedly dating from the 1950s and 1960s, I need to identify which spirit dancers they represented. Provenance describes the ownership history of the doll. i religion, Kachinas are supernatural beings believed to live on the San Francisco Peaks (. WebThe Kachina doll of the Hopi, which so many of us admire and collect, is the representation of a Hopi spirit or deity. You can use the color of a Kachina doll to estimate its age. very good to know about my name! The seller revealed it was in perfect condition, excluding a broken feather tip. However, if its impossible to find a local appraiser in your state, you could first check out local museums or settle for online antique reviews. 2}Wo)hn}r?F?<=~89QGqfPtGx~n`A: Leave the valuation to a reliable appraisal when you cant find any conclusive result. Antique Hopi Kachina dolls cannot be in new condition, as age must have affected them. 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. Visual appeal to create an immediate impression on audience. The first is the painted mouth, which can be either rectangular, triangular, or crescent shaped.

Typical male regalia includes: Kachina figures can also carry accessories that are associated with what their respective kachinam will carry during the ceremonial dances. 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. In addition to the boosted tourism and sales, artists began traveling in droves to witness the Hopi tribe and their cultural activities. Send the image with necessary details to an online appraisal. The other is the carved mouth, of which there is either a horizontal mouth with a wide or narrow beard, a beak that is turned up or down, a tube or a short snout. Other noticeable facial features include the ears, which appear large with red paint, feathers, bird wings, hair, and horns. [9] Starting around 1900, the figures began to have a more naturalistic look to them as a result of the white mans interest and trade. Of course, the list doesnt seem much to identify/value the wide extent of antique dolls. For instance, exposed cottonwood (area of breakage) turns a brown or honey color with time, whereas a complete doll has a consistent coloration. [2], The katsinas are known to be the spirits of deities, natural elements or animals, or the deceased ancestors of the Hopi. $32.00. The carvers placed the arms very close to the body. You may face trouble in finding an exact match of the dolls marking at first. kachinanoun. Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? kachi-na. $32.00. His first visit was in 1903. These Kachinas sometimes have bows or yucca whips. Antique Kachinas carvers used aniline paints and embellishments such as shells, straws, sticks, cotton, corn husks, leather, yarn, and feathers. Actual age of doll, dating back to the manufacturing period. But the aforementioned details should save you unnecessary research to make a dependable start. Doll Materials 2. Native American Navajo Made Ahote Warrior Kachina Doll. Sandpaper and wood finishing tools were generally unavailable to the Hopi in this era. The students will discuss why dolls might help children remember. Most figures of this period display realistic body proportions and show movement, which are distinguishing features of this period. Detailed painting of decorations and facial features. But the actual Hopi name was Katsina and has become more widely used in the last 20 years. Vinyl Records Value: Your Old Value Records Worth a Fortune, Vintage Stiffel Lamps: Value and Price Guide, Vintage Smith Corona Typewriter: History, Models, and Value, Vintage Schwinn Bikes: [Types, Identification, and Values], Vintage Rooster Cookie Jar Identification and Value Guide, Porcelain dolls were introduced to European countries right in the middle of the 19, Glazed Chinese porcelain looked noticeably shiny to give the name. "[5], Except for major ceremonial figures, most katsina figures originated in the late 19th century. Manufacturer Mark 3. Over time, Kachina Dolls became more and more sophisticated and included bases for the dolls to stand on and showing the Kachina in action- such as dancing or hunting. For over 2,000 years, Native Americans of the Southwest have prayed to the great spirits to bless their world with good weather, abundant game and a bountiful harvest. Every symbol, color, and design on a Hopi kachina figure has definite meaning in connection with Hopi religion, custom, history, and way of life. These people run with the men during the ceremonies. The children treasure the doll and study it so that they can learn to recognize and respect the host of Katsinam that people the Hopi world. Kachina-doll; carved of wood; in the form of Mud Head Clown; circle of wood for base; kachina stands on base on right foot, left foot raised behind, arms outstretched; wears case mask on head with round protruberance on either side and one on back, pointed protruberance out top, all decorated with feathers; eyes and mouth protrude from front; You can also buy used vintage or antique Hopi dolls via online marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, 1stBibs, and Amazon. Please. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Their kind is dependent on what or who they represent. I knew there were different kinds , but not this many , Please note, comments must be approved before they are published. For example, these items might include bows, rattles, sticks, staffs, yucca whips, or even a sword-like affair, a saw, or a butcher knife. [17] The regalia in this period are more detailed and in the 1960s, carvers began to attach bases to the dolls in order to appeal to the tourists who didnt want to hang the dolls on their walls. And the 1900s observed a massive transformation in designs. "[3] An authentic kachina figure will have proper proportioning of the body and no excessive detail. Beware of a doll that: Most reputable traders will not call a non-Hopi doll a kachina. Kachinas carved as warriors or guards represent the men of valor who played important roles before, during, or after war. Native American Made White Owl Warrior Katsina Doll. If youre ready to start collecting, you must buy from a dealer registered with the Antique Tribal Arts Dealer Association (ATADA). Traditional, or Old-Style, Kachina Dolls were simple carvings given to Hopi children to teach them about their culture and the Kachinas that would be visiting during the upcoming ceremony. Missing any point can significantly affect the valuation, even with the professionals. or Qatsina, means "life Bringer," in the Hopi language. The Hopi were the original Kachina Doll carvers, using a single piece of cottonwood root. WebThere 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. Kachinas are believed to reside with the tribe for half of each year. The same place theyve inhabited in Northern Arizona for over 1,000 years. Some kachinas also have beards of feathers or red-dyed horsehair.[27]. There is spiritual importance in this fact, as the Hopis are dry farmers in an arid part of Arizona and the search for water is of critical importance to their culture. Visiting shops and galleries that specialize in authentic Hopi kachinas will help ensure that you get the real thing, and that you are supporting the talented artists who are helping to preserve their traditions. In-person appraisals usually provide more accurate answers than online or virtual appraisals. Kachina dolls are symbolic and ceremonial items gifted to Native Americans, specifically Hopi girls, at different stages of their lives. Expectedly, the Hopi and the Zuni Intensified their production. This item: Hopi Kachina Dolls with a Key to Their Identification $1995 Hopi Kachinas: The Complete Guide to Collecting Kachina Dolls $1495 Book of the Hopi The Cottonwood trees vigorous roots travel far and deep in search of water. The common colors used were dark sage green, red ochre, pink, and yellow. Prices today range on average from $500 to $1,000, and it is not unusual to see a carved figure up to $10,000. Of course, no one actually intends to play with antique dolls anymore. For instance, on auspicious occasions, men of the tribe have to dress up as these spirits and perform their usual dances, and sometimes they hold dolls carved after the Ketsinam being celebrated. For more information on Hopi Kachina dolls, check for documented examples in Native American art books, as these are good learning mediums. This book should be the first purchase to assist a beginning collector in understanding and acquiring Hopi Kachina Dolls. Bisque head included molded eyes, mouth & ears. Wooden body held Chinese porcelain shoulders & heads. However, unlike the eyes, which look realistic either way, the noses rarely look real except when expertly carved into the wood. AC: The teacher will ask the students why they think people would use dolls to help their children learn about the kachinas. The people of Hopiland can be found at the Hopi Village on the Third Mesa. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Older dolls should contain clear imprints on its physical surface. The masked dancers embody the return of the kachinas to help bring the rain. Today, Kachina dolls history continues as Kachina dolls, both old and new, are perceived as one of the most collectible Native American crafts on the market. Each year, throughout the period from winter solstice to mid-July, these spirits, in the form of katsinas, come down to the villages to dance and sing, to bring rain for the upcoming harvest, and to give gifts to the children.