Navajo Kachina Motsin Doll By Sara L.

Late 20th Century

14" H

Hand Carved with Fabric Clothing, Fur and Black Hair with White Stripes and Feathers

I Good Condition with General Wear and Loss of Feathers Overall Light Soil 

“Motsin, the Disheveled Kachina, is appearing less frequently for his function is to enforce attendance in community work parties.  One of the main forms of community work is the cleaning out of the springs, and these have, for the most part, been supplanted by water systems.  However, he does appear in ceremonies such as the Powamu or Palölökongti.  He carries the tools for enforcement of his desires.  This kachina can appear in white, as shown here, but he is usually black faced.  One of the most characteristic marks used to be his appearance in a striped shirt, but over the years the sale of these shirts has disappeared.  Now he comes in any convenient shirt.” 

- From the Book Kachinas: A Hopi Artist's Documentary by Barton Wright, 1973