Hopi Pueblo Sunface Kachina Doll

Late 20th Century

12.25 " H including feather x 5" L x 4.5" W

Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root Holding a Rattle and Adorned with Felt, Yarn, Leather and Feathers Unsigned

In Very Good Condition

The Sunface Katsina (also known as Tawa or Dawa), a beloved and commonly depicted figure in Hopi tradition. This Katsina embodies the spirit of the sun and symbolizes warmth, brightness, and hope. It represents the sun's life-giving light and heat essential for crops and survival in the arid Southwest. It also conveys shelter and care for the elderly, a bright future, and playfulness for the young. The Sunface often appears in ceremonies like winter dances to pray for the sun's return or in mixed dances to celebrate its warmth and vitality. The rattle is a typical attribute for many Katsinam, used in dances to invoke rain, blessings, or rhythm. The prominent feather on top (often radiating outward to symbolize sun rays) is a signature feature of the Sunface, along with a circular mask/face design evoking the sun.