1880s Hopi Hisatkatsina or “Ancient One”

This is the oldest katsinam I’ve had in 30+ years. I date it to the 1880s or earlier. Very simple form, barely carved. I believe it to be a Hisatkatsina or “ancient one” who no longer appears. It has animal like ears, a jagged mouth, and a beard. It has a faded brief, black loin cloth and no other clothing suggesting it could have been a Racer or Runner katsina. I added the professional base to display it properly and safely. 

It came to me with a full-page letter from Barton Wright (dated 2000) that reached the same conclusion regarding it being a Hisatkatsina. Barton wrote 13 books on Hopi culture and katsinam. The carving is quite large at 12 1/4″ tall and 3″ wide. This carving was NOT made for tourist or anthropologist collector market. No restoration. This carving is discussed at length in our book, “Hopi Katsina Anomalies, the Unusual, Rare and Unique.” Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2024.