Hopi Lalay'hoya Animal Herder Rare Katsina Doll Carving From The Fred Harvey Collection

CARVER UNKNOWN

Publication: Carver Unknown, n d (ca 1910), N P

This is a rarely-carved Hopi Pueblo Katsina, representing an animal herder. It does represent a katsina, however. The skirt was made from bungling bands of string and wrapping them at the top, a very laborious process. There is a crack in the wood on the front from the chest down to the loin cloth. The left arm has been repaired and painted. The rarity of the carving helps offset the condition problems. This Hopi Lalay'hoya, Animal Herder Rare Katsina Doll Carving is mounted on a square black wood platform of the style used by the Fred Harvey Company on many of its katsina dolls. There are no other identifying markings to indicate a Fred Harvey provenance. My thoughts are that he is a legitimately Hopi carved doll that has had some repairs. Regarding the Animal Herder—he is in the condition he was in when he arrived here. He most likely had eagle feathers attached to his head originally. Those would have been removed at some point, as it is illegal to have them. Sometimes, people will attach turkey feathers to restore the original look of the doll. I cannot say with certainty what was in his right hand, but it may have been a rattle, as those are also common for pieces like this. It is (unfortunately) very common for older kachinas to have lost and gained some feathers, a rattle, or even a limb over the years. -- Michael Marchant, Adobe Gallery 4/30/21.

Inventory Number: 48136