Navajo Kachina Hoops Doll

Freida Charley (sometimes spelled "Freda" or "F. Charley" in listings) is a Native American artist associated with Navajo traditions, known for crafting intricately detailed kachina dolls.  While kachinas are traditionally a Hopi and Pueblo cultural practice, Navajo artists like Charley have adapted and created their own versions, often incorporating ceremonial dancers, animals, or symbolic figures.  These dolls are typically hand-carved from cottonwood root, painted with natural pigments, and adorned with feathers, leather, and beads to represent spiritual beings or performers in dances.  Charley's works date primarily from the mid-20th century (1960s–1970s) and are prized for their vibrant colors, expressive features, and cultural authenticity.