Hopi kachina Chakwaina doll - Arizona, United States

Description

Impressive Hopi kachina doll in the guise of Chakwaina, with powerful mask and original painting.

This kachina displays the distinctive round mouth and geometric patterns around the face, typical of Chakwaina (also known as the Black Mask or Warrior Katsina). With its red ears, blue accents and beautifully painted skirt, this statue exudes power and authority. The colourful feathers on the head are still present and enhance the expression.

Origin & meaning
Chakwaina is one of the most respected kachinas within the Hopi tradition. He symbolises warrior power, protection and leadership during ceremonial dances. This figure was given to children to teach them about the spiritual world and the role of kachinas in the community.

Dimensions
Height 26 cm, width 10 cm, depth 7 cm (without the feathers).

Provenance: Veilinghuis de Zwaan (2024), Collection Fred Smit, Haarlem

Fred Smit - teacher and historian Fred Smit made his first purchase in 1968 and would steadily expand his collection over the following decades to include objects from distant cultures. His interest was mainly in Africa and Oceania and he bought from recognised galleries, including Galerie Lemaire, Galerie Mabuhay (Rob Kok), Kunsthandel Aalderink and Michel Thieme in Amsterdam. His interests proved diverse: besides masks and sculptures, there were also weapons, carpets and various utensils. Visitors were amazed by the order with which the collector at his home in Haarlem managed to place each object in the big picture of shapes and colours, contributing to an imaginative interpretation of objects from exotic cultures.