Laguna Pueblo Kachina Doll By R. Livingston

ca.  1960-70

12" H

Hand Carved and Painted in Red, Teal, Tan, Black and White Colors and Signed Laguna R. Livingston

Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico and Kachinas from Laguna are quite rare

In Good Condition but Note that the kilt has torn away

Laguna Pueblo dolls are distinctive for their style often featuring unique body markings (e.g., cross-hatch patterns or sun symbols), turquoise/yellow face divisions with lightning motifs, and clothing akin to Zuni traditions rather than Hopi.  Unlike Hopi, Laguna allows these dolls to be sold to outsiders, a practice tied to its founding in 1699 after the Pueblo Revolt.  Vintage pieces (typically 1930s–1970s) use cottonwood root, natural pigments, and feathers, valued for their craftsmanship and provenance.

Pueblo Kachinas (often spelled Katsinas in modern contexts to reflect Pueblo pronunciation) are spiritual beings , representing aspects of nature, ancestors, or moral concepts.  They’re central to religious and cultural life, particularly in ceremonies from winter solstice to mid-summer.  The term "Kachina" can refer to three things: the supernatural beings themselves, the masked dancers who embody them during ceremonies, or the carved wooden figures (often called dolls) given to children as teaching tools.