Early Hopi Tsutsu’sona or Snake Dancer

Large, strong rendition of the Hopi Tsutsu’sona or Snake Dancer from about 1900. He’s on a simple black wooden base that may be from the Keams Canyon Trading Post. The Snake figure is 12 1/2″ tall and 4 1/4″ wide. There is a very simply made leather sash nailed to the body of the katsina – a very early form of attachment. He is holding the remnants of a feather in his right hand. See the accompanying photo that shows a Snake Dancer with a feather in his right hand. I’ve had other carvings by this individual whom I refer to as the “mystery man.” He made other dramatic figures in this style around the turn of the century. This is a special Hopi woodcarving.