$6,500.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
ca 1900
9.375" H x 2.375" L x 3.625" W
Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root with Painted Black, Yellow, Red and Terracotta Colors
In Very Good Condition
The Snake Dancer Kachina (known as Chusona in Hopi) represents the participants in the famous Hopi Snake Dance, one of the most sacred and dramatic ceremonies among the Hopi people of northern Arizona. This is not always classified strictly as a traditional kachina spirit (katsina), but rather as a representation of the human priests from the Snake Clan who perform the ritual.
Hopi Kachina dolls, also known as tithu or katsintithu in the Hopi language (with katsina being the preferred term for the spirits themselves), are hand-carved wooden figures that represent the katsinam—immortal spirit beings in Hopi mythology. These spirits act as messengers between humans and the natural world, bringing rain, fertility, good hunting, and harmony with nature. They visit the Hopi people (who live in northeastern Arizona) from winter solstice through mid-July, performing dances and ceremonies to support the community.
Cultural and Spiritual Significance
- The Snake Dance is a biennial rain ceremony (held in odd or even years, alternating with the Flute Ceremony) in late August, lasting 16 days and culminating in a public dance.
- It is performed primarily by the Snake and Antelope Clans to pray for rain, fertility, and bountiful crops in the arid desert environment.
- Snakes are considered "brothers" to the Hopi and sacred messengers. Live snakes (including rattlesnakes) are gathered from the four directions, washed ceremonially, danced with (held in the mouth or around the neck), and then released to carry prayers to the underworld spirits and ancestors.
- The ritual demonstrates fearlessness, manliness, and harmony with nature, honoring the Plumed Serpent and guardians of water sources.
The ceremony is now closed to the public to protect its sacred nature, though it was observed by outsiders in the past.
A "hanging doll" is a traditional style of Kachina doll designed for suspension, often from a wall, beam, or cradle in Hopi homes. These dolls are given to Hopi children (especially young girls) during ceremonies to teach about the katsinam, their roles, and cultural traditions. The hanging feature allows the doll to be displayed prominently where it can "watch over" the household, treated with respect as a protective talisman.
Condition:
Very Good
Tribe:
Hopi
Year Range:
1875 - 1900
Region:
Southwest
Dimensions:
9.38 in2.38 in3.63 in
Category:
Kachina - Old Style - Hanging
