Mid-Century Furniture, Native American Art and Militaria Auction Closed (#15157243)
Terms & ConditionsVintage 14" 'Snake Dancer' Kachina By P.Y. 
- Sold Winning Bid: $84.50
- 11 Bid(s) View Bid History
- High Bidder: Judith
Vintage 14" 'Snake Dancer' Kachina By P.Y.
- Hand carved from cottonwood root.
- Signed, Hand Carved, Hand Painted
- Wood, Leather, Feathers
About the Snake Dancer Kachina:
The 'Snake Dancer' is a distinctive Kachina that carries deep spiritual significance within Hopi culture. It represents a clan ceremony believed to be extremely sacred, where a dancer captures a serpent and dances with it, often placing the snake in their mouth. This act is a request to Mother Earth to grant the tribe's wishes for health, rain, and harvest.
Visually, the 'Snake Dancer' Kachina is depicted with a serpentine image on the skirt and a face painted with black smut extending from the cheeks to the forehead. The attire is completed with a black wig embellished with feathers or branches and a fox pelt trailing from the waist belt.
The ceremonial practices represented by this figure are typically private, and the intentions and specific aspects of the ritual remain a sacred secret to the tribe. After the ceremony, the Snake Dancer remains solemn for several days, continuing the plea for the blessings from Mother Earth.
Condition:
Good, Age Appropriate Wear
Size:
14" X 7" X 7"