1880s Hopi Hisatkatsina or “Ancient One”

This is one of the oldest katsinam I’ve had. I would 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.

It came to me with a full-page letter from Barton Wright (dated 2000) that reached the same conclusion re: 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.