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Collecting Native American Art

Native American KACHINA DOLLS

A Kachina is a spirit god.

As part of a ritualistic prayer ceremony, Native American tribal men dress as certain spirits, honoring the Kachina they wish to appease.

Where still observed, these ceremonies usually start at the beginning of crop season and are practiced regularly until the fall harvest.

Similar to the gods of Greek Mythology, Native Americans believe a Kachina guides every aspect of his or her existence with mother earth and father sky.

For example, The Chief Kachina is responsible for teaching wisdom and is held with the same esteem as the tribal elders.

Shalakos Kachinas are the spirits of the clouds; they are prayed to for deliverance of rain.

Kachina dolls first evolved as a gift for children. Much like statues of Christian saints, these dolls were designed to teach children about the spirits that surrounded their daily lives.

The dolls were carved and dressed to resemble a particular spirit, to educate and appease that spirit during spiritual reflection.

Traditional Kachina dolls are carved from the root of the cottonwood tree and painted with plant and berry pigments. They are simple forms that are crude when compared to contemporary offerings.

Modern Kachinas are still carved from the root of the cottonwood tree, but the craftsmanship behind them can be highly detailed and polished.

Since the middle of the twentieth century, Native American artisans have accented Kachina dolls with leather, shells, feathers and fur. Designs have become more animated and the visions more abstract.

While Kachina is generally associated with the Hopi Nation, other Native American tribes create and assortment of spirit dolls.

There is some debate among collectors of Native American arts as to the legitimacy of accented Hopi Kachina dolls.

While Hopi Kachina dolls generally follow the traditional format of cottonwood and paint, some Hopi crafters have been known to embellish their work with materials similar to those used in beadwork.

Kachina pricing will vary depending on size, materials used, accents used, overall detail and appeal, and of course, the popularity of the artist who created it.