For centuries, different tribes have made Kachina Dolls to use in religious ceremonies. The term "Kachina" refers to a masked and costumed dancer representing various spiritual and natural aspects of life. Kachinas are friends, guardians, or messengers to the Gods. They are believed to have supernatural powers, bestow blessings and nurture life. Carved Kachina Dolls were originally presented to the women and children of the tribe but now are made for others to enjoy. All Kachina impersonations are performed by males, including the figures representing female Kachinas. Kachinas are a part of many cultures and religions. A Kachina is simply a spirit that represents sounds, animals, characterizations of people, crops, sun, earth, stars and the moon. For the Navajo People, Kachina Dolls mean more than just representations; they are a way of life. For years the Navajo Tribes have reproduced Kachina Dolls and have adopted this tradition as their own. Navajo Kachina Dolls have become as much of a collectible as the fine jewelry, rugs, pottery and the countless other crafts they make. The Navajo People are well-known for their outstanding artistic talent which seems to be present throughout families. The Navajo Kachina Doll derives from Hopi and Zuni Kachinas and being that all of these reservations are very close to one another, especially the Hopi and Navajo which are side by side, it seems that each Tribe has (in some way) adopted each other's traditions whether it be Kachina Dolls, weavings, pottery, or jewelry. We hope to inform collectors about Navajo Kachina Dolls, and explain why they are so important to the Navajo People, not only as income for their family, but we know that the artists who make these wonderful Dolls do hold a great deal of respect for them. We should not judge other people's talent and what they choose to do with it but appreciate their differences. Wildlife Collection: Due to the popularity of animal figures, a Wildlife collection has been created as a more collectible Doll rather than spiritual. As the collector can see, each Doll available in the Wildlife Collection has a molded head and face resembling that of the animal it represents. This is necessary in order to supply the demand and provide consistent quality to the custumer. A molded face rather than hand carved, keeps the cost down tremendously. There will be certain Dolls within the description stating that it has a head or face made of resin. This resin face is crafted in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The resin face closely resembles an actual hand carved wooden face. Each Kachina Doll is signed and titled by the artisan who created it. Each Kachina Doll is assembled by hand and is hand painted, and has different accessories and clothing, and there may be slight variations and different colors between the dolls pictured and those received when ordering. Some of the components of these Kachina Dolls are not made by Indians. NOTE: When ordering, a small card stating a story about Kachina Dolls is included, and sometimes another card about each individual Doll, such as Eagle, Bear, etc., when available. do not make any such claims to the above statements. Thank You ! |