Vtg Hopi Chusona Snake Dancer Kachina Doll Cottonwood G. Hayah Signed 13 Tall
Hayah out of Polacca, AZ. This stands approximately 13 tall. I believe that there should have been a knife of other small piece in the hand that is not holding the snake. I do not have that piece if there was ever one there. It is nicely cared from cottonwood. The signature is still very clear.
No significant damage or repairs that I can find. Here is a brief write-up found online of what the Snake Dancer symbolizes in the Hopi culture. The Snake Dancer Katsinam (Chusona) is a rarely carved Kachina figure, and in some communities it is not considered a Kachina at all, but a person in society. This clan ceremony is believed to be one of the most sacred among the Hopi.
When a snake is found, the Snake Dancer captures the serpent and dances with it, usually putting it in his mouth. The tribe paints or weaves the serpentine image into the skirt of the dancer, and the clan paints the face of the dancer with the black smut from cheeks to forehead. The dancer also wears a black wig covered with feathers or branches.
They often have a fox pelt hanging from the back of their waist belts. The ceremonies are not usually open to the public; instead they are closed private affairs, keeping sacred many of the specific intentions. The Snake Dancer requests that Mother Earth grant the wishes of the tribe, which usually ask for good health, seasonal rain and a bountiful harvest. After the ceremony, the Dancer remains solemn for a period of days while requesting that Mother Earth grant the wishes of the People. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\Native American: US\1935-Now\Dolls & Kachinas".
The seller is "oldschoolwear" and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, Korea, South, Indonesia, Taiwan, South Africa, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Republic of, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Bolivia, Egypt, French Guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macau, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Uruguay, Philippines, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands.
- Origin: Hopi
- Featured Refinements: Hopi Kachina Doll
- Artisan: G.
Hayah
- Tribal Affiliation: Hopi
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Handmade: Yes
- Culture: Native American: US