Hopi Kachina Mastop Doll By Loren Philips

Late 20th Century

11" H

Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root Holding a Boomerang 

Excellent Condition

Mastop Katsina is a Winter Solstice Katsina who is unique to the Third Mesa villages and appears during Soyal ceremony.  He is a counterpart to Second Mesa's Sivaktsina.  Both Katsinam represent the energy of fertility for mankind as well as moisture of rain and snow.

Loren Phillips (b.1942) is a top prize-winning Hopi Carver.  His one-piece dolls are considered among the finest carvings in the history of Hopi art.  Loren’s sculptural style often is compared with Michelangelo.  Like the Italian Renaissance master, Loren carefully observed natural forms.

Loren's tools for carving are predominately pocket and hunting knives, from which he carves the finer details of patterns, textures and decorative lines.  He is very particular about the sanding and finishing of his dolls, especially the last steps of staining and painting.  Loren has developed his own method of applying stains to give the surface a beautiful luster, through which the grain of the wood is still visible.  All of this is very evident when you look at this kachina.

Loren is very meticulous about the creation of his dolls, and his hallmark is the motion and action he puts into every doll.  This kachina is truly an action doll.  The posture shows tremendous action, with arms reached out to warn any who would misbehave!

Loren Phillips is featured in every book about Hopi carvers, including "The Art of the Hopi" by Jerry & Lois Jacka, "Kachina Dolls" by Helga Tiewes, "Kachina Doll Carving" by Erik Bromberg and "Hopi Kachina Dolls and their Carvers" by Theda Bassman.