Vintage Hopi NATASKA (BLACK OGRE) Katsina Head Wall Hanger 9 1/2 x 8 Kachina

Vintage Hopi NATASKA (BLACK OGRE) Katsina Head, Wall Hanger. THIS IS AUTHENTIC AND OLD!

This comes from our personal collection. It has been in our care and hung on our smoke-free home, out of sunlight, for over 20 years and it was old when we bought it.. This is a beautiful OLD wall-hanger. It is very well made.

We know it looks delicate (and it is). Rest assured it will be packed so it arrives in tact. This is a once in a who-knows-when chance to own a really unique piece of history.

It's very well done and measures approximately 8" tall x 9 1/2" wide. Wood carving with three kachina faces. Vintage piece, hand colored with.

Warrior, Mudhead kachina, rain clouds, corn and other symboli. C images carved into it. Please examine all pictures very closely as they constitute. The majority of the description. It is in great condition. Also known as Tahaum Soyoko, ogres are disciplinarians with the main purpose of reinforcing the way of life to the children of the Pueblo. They usually have long, flapping jaws which they can clack loudly. Nataska (also Nata´aska and variants) is the uncle of the family of ogre katchinam who guard Soyok Wuhti (Monster Woman), and who enforce good behavior among the children. Nataska is a Mongkatsina (a chief among the Katsinam) Wiharu (White Nataska) is a similar or identical Katsina with a white rather than black face. As with other Hopi Katsinam, Nataskas exist in three senses: as spiritual beings, as dancers/characters in the yearly rituals (who are understood as metaphors for and to some extent manifestations of the beings), and as carved wooden figures depicting the beings. They serve a cultural role of explaining the Hopi way of life, particularly for indoctrinating children in the society's history, behavioral expectations, moral codes, and ritual practices. They are also part of the ceremony for inducting young children into the Kachina Society. In both the mask and figure form, Nataska has a large, long snout, and carries a saw or knife in one hand, and a hunting bow in the other.

The mask is sometimes hinged to make a clacking sound as the Katsina dancer moves, which is frightening to children. Depending on the village, there may be several Nataskas.

They are said to inhabit a series of long caves near Pinion, Arizona. Nataska appears during the midwinter bean planting ceremony, early in the ceremonial season.

On First Mesa and Second Mesa villages (but not on Third Mesa since 1910) men of the village, dressed as Nataska and other ogres, visit the homes of families with children, demanding gifts of food with a warning that if the gift is unsatisfactory when they return, or if the children have misbehaved, they will return to kidnap or eat the children. Often, the families have mentioned their children's misbehavior in advance of the visits, so that the children are frightened into thinking the ogres have special powers of observation. The ogres appear again at the Powamuya (bean dance) accompanying Soyok Wuhti to threaten children against misbehaving. In some versions of the ceremony, they are vanquished or appeased by the end of the dance so as to spare the children's lives, and return to their caves until next season. Be sure to check out our store for similar items.

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If we underestimate the box size or weight, we eat the difference. The discount varies by location, size and weight so there is no way for us to predict it. We DOUBLE BOX (with a peanut buffer) 99% of our POTTERY and most other items except jewelry, which gets its own special treatment. Our pots are first wrapped in white tissue paper, then in bubble wrap, then put in a box with peanuts. That box is put in another box with peanuts. We load the box with FRAGILE and GLASS stickers and other appropriate materials for items requiring extra careful packing for non-damaging shock absorption from transit abuse. Nothing worse than a beautiful irreplaceable one-of-a-kind damaged item. We recycle materials whenever possible to be environmentally friendly.

Check out our feedback from customers who received a severely damaged, partially crushed, wet, pierced, etc. OUTER box but found their item safe and sound in the INNER box. We use appropriate crush-strength boxes and do not skimp on packing materials. If you want special instructions for the carrier, let us know immediately so we can add that to the label. We do monitor daily progress on all packages as we are far from apathetic.

So, should some delay occur, please be patient and know we are on it and just as frustrated as you are. We've never had a package lost in 24 years.

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We are simply provide great pieces at reasonable prices to create a great value. We do our best to document all items accurately and to the best of our knowledge.

We try to take photos that are as true to the actual color as we can possibly get. But, keep in mind, every monitor shows colors differently.

We attempt to depict any defects or imperfections in the description. However, the pictures are to be considered the majority of the description. If you want additional close-ups or a different angle, feel free to request them.

The only reason we will accept a return is if we misrepresent an item by accident We are human. This is our #1 priority. Please consider the pictures, therefore, 95% of the description.

If you are a collector of Native American Pottery, Jewelry, Kachina, basketry, and hard-to-find/unusual items in great shape, please put us in your favorites so you can be notified of our authentic vintage items as we list them. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\Native American: US\1935-Now\Dolls & Kachinas". The seller is "lcbergh" and is located in this country: US.

This item can be shipped to United States.

Origin: Native American
Provenance: Ownership History Available
Material: Cottonwood Root
Artisan: Unknown
Tribal Affiliation: Hopi
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Handmade: Yes