Hopi Kachina Mudhead Baby Doll By Henry Shelton

ca. 1960

6.5" H + Feathers x 3" L x 2.875" W

Hand Carved Baby with Baby Bib, Diaper Half off, Bottle, Rattle and Feathers from Oraibi, AZ

Excellent Condition

Henry Shelton was Born in 1929 on the Hopi Reservation, Henry P. Shelton was a prolific Hopi artisan who attended the Santa Fe Indian School (1944–1949). He specialized in carving Kachina dolls, paintings, and sculptures, often working in the traditional style with natural materials like cottonwood root, feathers, yarn, and pigments. Shelton, a master carver from the Hopi village of Oraibi on Third Mesa, Arizona, was celebrated for his traditional, one-piece cottonwood root carvings that capture the spiritual essence of Kachinas. His works are held in prestigious collections, including the Smithsonian Institution, Museum of Northern Arizona, Denver Art Museum, Heard Museum, and Brooklyn Museum. Shelton exhibited widely and received numerous awards. He emphasized cultural education, noting in interviews that Kachina dolls serve as teaching tools for Hopi youth to learn ceremonies and songs.

Provenance:  From the Len and Toni Wood Private Collection, Laguna Beach, California