UNIQUE ZUNI CARVED “SHALAKO” KACHINA DOLL W/ STAND,MID 20TH C,EXCELENT CONDITION

Description

UNIQUE ZUNI HAND CARVED “SHALAKO” KATSINA DOLL, MID 20TH C, EXCELLENT CONDITION
This hand-carved mid 20th C version of the Shalako Katsina is rare as it stands on a shelf that is meant to attach to a wall like a sconce. This is a very good representation of the real Shalako (see below). The hand-made clothing is embellished with fine felt applique’ work and black germantown wool yarn tassels - all to simulate embroidery normally applied to mantas. A necklace of coral and turquoise colored beads hangs from the neck as do faux fox fur pendants. Commercial black yarn ruff surrounds the neck.  Felt adornments cover the shelf making a kachina mask against a brightly colored orange background.  Just a one-of-a-kind Zuni Katsina!
ZUNI SHALAKO KATSINA DOLL
Shalako
is a series of dances and ceremonies conducted by the Zuni people for the Zuni people at the winter solstice, typically following the harvest.
The Shalako ceremony and feast has been closed to non-native peoples since 1990.
However, non-native peoples may be invited as guests by a Zuni tribal member.
The Shalakos, "brought good fortune, abundant crops, and many children."
They are chosen at Winter Solstice, when they begin to learn the chants they will recite in the early December ceremony.
The Shálako festival, on or about December 1, is a remarkable sacred drama, enacted in the open for the double purpose of invoking the divine blessing upon certain newly built houses, and of rendering thanks to the gods for the harvests of the year. The exact date of the Shálako is fixed each year by a formula of the Zuni Bow priests, which traditionally was the 49th day past the tenth full moon, but has been altered to the weekend nearest the 49th day past the tenth full moon, as many Zuni people work away from their Reservation at jobs that do not allow them weekdays off.
Fresh to the marketplace.  Measures approximately 14” H x 8” W.  Reportedly collected in the 1960s.
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