Many of those details are now carved out and painted with modern acrylics. Suite 130 Tucson, AZ 85750, Monday through Saturday: 10AM - 5PM, Sunday: Closed. Regions of broken or chipped appendages (which are typically found in vintage dolls) should have areas of oxidation where the damage occurs. Tribes of the Southwest believed that aspects of nature could be personified by Ketsinam. Unfortunately, there are also unscrupulous nonnatives who try and pass off Old Style carvings as vintage. However, many other roots like cottonwood root can currently be used for just one doll. . Kachina tradition is unique only to the Pueblo Tribes of Arizona and New Mexico. 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. The word "kachina" comes from the Hopi word "kachi," which means "spirit." 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. Talented Maynard Dixon was a frequent visitor of Hopi. Provenance: A well-documented history regarding the doll can add a huge premium in terms of value. Consider that all the symbols in the doll are related to each other, so harmony exists between them. If youd like to get an idea of your kachinas value, look up similar dolls online. Kachina dolls can be traced back to the Native American Hopi people. It is said that the bear doll possesses great strength, which he uses to protect his people and heal their illnesses. It signifies power and strength. Facial Traits: There are only two types of eyes in the Kachina dolls. Doll artists became creative and began carving out feathers on the dolls, resulting in a new Hopi art form known as kachina sculpture. Condition. Collectible Toys From Antique to Contemporary. All of these tribes believe the Kachina to be their cultural heritage. All rights reserved. Original, untouched condition is desirable, especially if the piece is in excellent condition. are . 1. 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. It hosts several kinds of American Indian art, including its music. Visit the John C. Hill Antique Indian Art Gallery online to view examples of Kachina dolls. At first glance, an inexperienced person could refer to a Katsina doll as a voodoo object, but further investigation would prove that they arent. You can get a sense of value by looking up your type of Kachina doll and determining what similar dolls fetch at auction. 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. The Amerind Museum in Arizona also has two excellent examples of early Kachina Dolls. It is worth noting that the Hopi were the first tribe to start carving Kachina dolls, but several other tribes joined them, like the case of the Zuni tribe, the Laguna tribe, the Aguna tribe, and the Navajos. Kachina dolls are an important part of Native American culture, and they have become a part of our everyday lives as well. There is more to Kachina dolls than the fact that they are made from cottonwood roots. The rarest kachina dolls have no fingers. Eagle - Represents strength & power. I would recommend taking your time to see the price for which some models have been sold in auctions (not sale price), so you can see that, even though most of the dolls can be sold for under $100, there are some pretty valuable models. A ruff around the neck. Kachina dolls, also knowns as katsina dolls, are symbolic and ceremonial Native American gifts. Jewelry that is painted or made of metal and other materials. After the ceremony, children take the dolls to their pueblo and hang them on the wall, or by a string from the ceiling. It is not uncommon to see some restoration in these early pieces. These can be, painted eyes in round shape, rectangular, or even as a half-moon, or they carve googly eyes in wood and then attach them to the figure; this also applies to the mouth, which can be painted, whether it is rectangular whether it is a half-moon or like a triangle, or carved. Areas with broken or chipped appendages would show less or more oxidation than the other normal side. In 1923, Dixon made a four-month trip to Hopi to capture the Kachina societies in pencil and paint. Sublette, M. "Deciphering Katsina: How to Identify Vintage Katsina Dolls." Native American Art, February/March 2018, pp. Permission to reproduce photos and paintings in this online catalog secured by J. Heluta is considered the father of the Kachinas and is widely recognized as the creator of deer. buckeyeantiques. During this era, kachina dolls began to take on more distinctive physical characteristics, such as a more pronounced head, the arms becoming separate from the body, and the dolls were carved in such a way that action poses could be deduced. Symbols: The symbols are a unique part of the Kachina dolls making them easier to identify. Kachina dolls, or Katsina dolls, are special figures that are exclusively made by the Hopi. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Kachina Doll Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique McCoy Pottery Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Perfume Bottles Value (Identificattion & Price Guides), Brown Betty teapot Value (Identification & Price Guides), Getting to Know the Origin of the Kachina Dolls, Antique Teapots Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Coffee Grinders Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Milk Cans Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Safe Value (Identification & Price Guides), Vintage Bread Boards Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Cast Iron Toys Value (Identification & Price Guides), Benrus Watch Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Blue Willow China Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Car Blue Book (Car Value & Identificatiron), Old Buttons Value (Identification & Price Guides), Skeleton Key Value (Identification & Price Guides). The tales portray the corn maiden as a heroine, and she appears in a variety of forms, from bride to ogress. Later on, the carvers began to attach bases using glue. Note the size of the doll, the material the doll is made of, the type of eyes, hair and clothing details. The Kachinas will appear in numbers, assign impossible tasks to the children, and promise to return in a few days. Antique or vintage Hopi Kachina dolls can sell for as high as $250,000 and as little as $100. Clothing that is painted on or created from fabric. Download Article. These last two characteristics of articulation and clothing are typical Zuni attributes. These dolls have unique designs, carving styles, color usage, and facial features. Interestingly enough, despite its . The figure's noses are either carved or painted. As each decade passed, carvers learned how to make multiple versions of a doll, making it less rare than the earlier carved kachinas. Contemporary Hopi Kachina dolls are highly sought after, with a single large doll taking months to create, often to be sold within the first week of completion to either a high-end Indian art gallery or a collector who commissioned it. Whether youve made this decision because it appeals to you, is a reasonable investment, or for religious beliefs doesnt matter. These include exaggerated rabbit ears, lines of black dots along the body parts, and vivid primary colors. Each kachina spirit has a different type of power. Dixon also captured the mundane daily life of the people, which can be seen in his piece "Hopi Woman Cutting Meat." A doll with a well-documented history is more valuable than a doll without. In uncommon cases, they could be adorned with calico or hard spun cotton clothes. A recently sold aholi Kachina doll. 5 Collectible and Most Valuable Campaign Buttons. Look for the Maker's Mark. The dolls are more elaborate than the old ones but usually less expensive, and women are becoming involved in the making of kachina dolls, as opposed to the traditional era when only men made these dolls. Breaks, wear, and missing parts are common in a wooden doll handled by loving children. They depict the spirit that helps the fallen rise back up. 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. Expect to be introduced to a comprehensive guide on identifying and valuing these significant pieces of Native American culture. Each doll is painstakingly painted according to cultural and spiritual traditions of the Hopi people. Dixon felt he needed to not only understand the spiritual side, but also how people lived. Figuring out a specific Kachina can be very difficult, particularly if the Kachina is not signed on the bottom. A visit to a museums collection specialist can help you determine how much your item is worth. Then, in the 1960s, artists began creating bases or stands for the dolls so that tourists who purchased them did not have to hang them on their walls. Guide to Hopi Kachina Dolls. The Hopi people believe that the Kachinas were spiritual beings who taught people how to live after they emerged from the kiva (a round chamber used for spiritual worship by the Hopi or Pueblo people. Identifying Kachina Dolls Overall whitewash. In the traditional era, the dolls were sold for approximately $0.25 per unit. These dolls are actually called tithu by the Hopi people. Shop Now See 360 virtual tour of our store.. Browse our collection of authentic Native American Kachina Dolls Contact Palms Trading Company today at (800) 748-1656 Non-Hopi people interested in purchasing this doll will have to do so without the back and top of the mask due to US Federal regulations regarding the sale of Hemis Kachinas. 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