HOPI, Arizona - Lot 432

HOPI, Arizona Kachina doll representing Sowi-ing Mana. The bare, unpainted face is simply punctuated by three black dots for the eyes and mouth. Two long, curved antennae rise vertically from the top of the head. A wide, thick ruff surrounds the neck, and feathers are attached on either side of the face. The doll features a painted band on the chest and a black and white woven fabric skirt. Painted wood, fabric, feathers; marks of time. Second half of the 20th century. Sowi-ing Mana embodies an entity linked to fertility prayers and the animal world. This type of representation, with its refined, stylized aesthetic, is rarely seen in the Kachina tradition. Distinctive attributes such as the curved antennae, massive ruff and minimalist face reinforce its symbolic dimension.