Mudhead Kachina - penny for your thoughts?

Is anyone able to offer thoughts on this Kachina?
Time period estimations would be especially helpful. Or do we think it's a reproduction? Either way, I think he's pretty special.

I bought him from an estate sale awhile back in pretty rough shape, as you can see, but I took a gamble because I hadn't seen many mudmen like this, specifically the whiskers, polka dots, and lamb (?) - I know unusual can sometimes be a bad thing. I'd greatly appreciate any thoughts or information. He's about 9 inches tall, and when the broken arm is articulated into its natural position, it matches the position of the left arm (static). Thank you!!

 

FYI - First time poster. Hoping I followed appropriate protocol. AND, it's his left arm that's broken (oops).

 

@2manybooks

 

u could go back to your post and hit EDIT ,and HIT FULL IMAGE..... which will bring up your photo's past thumbnail size....

otherwise ... yer fine here !!

 

Measly- These folks can help- @komokwa @Taupou @Potteryplease @2manybooks @Any Jewelry

 

Kachina figures, known as the clown Kachina, or Koyemsi, are called Mudhead Kachina. Seen in most Hopi ceremonies, the Mudhead Kachinas play the role of entertainment and laughter at the Hopi dances. They drum, dance, play games and may act as announcers for events.

 

Not my area of expertise, but you have already tagged Taupou, who will no doubt know.

 

the whiskers could just be a moustache ...as above..

I'd take an educated guess at 1970's..... thereabouts.... maybe a tad later..

 

I would suggest mid 20th century, and possibly Zuni rather than Hopi. He is not as static as the 19th and early 20th century figures, but not as dynamic a pose as later carvings. The Zuni carvers more often carved the arms separately and affixed them to the body, and added items of clothing. The paint used looks like tempera, rather than acrylic, which would also be consistent with a mid-century date..

 

Thank you - I could not figure out how to do that. Haha. Done

 

Interesting that Zuni more often attached arms. Poor guy's intended pose is more static than his current condition - broken arm and all, but yes still extended out. Thanks for sharing!

 

How did you find this image so quickly? I must be doing something wrong because hours on the internet hasn't turned up anything as close. Thank you!

 

This is a pretty cool Zuni painting from the 30's.

 

Google lens........

but we can not divulge all our tricks..... or you won't need to visit no more.. ..

 

I once had a pair of boots like that with US Indian head nickels ..... let them go too inexpensively....

 

It's all of the things I've let go that drive me to collect and hoard now. Probably not healthy but it is fun.

 

I can give you some information about Mudheads, also known to the Hopi, as Koyemsi, or the Mudhead Clown. Some Hopi will even insist they are not actual kachinas, although they are an important part of the culture, and appear in most Kachina Dances.

According to that belief, since Mudheads are the incestuous offspring of their father and his sister, they can never be kachinas. So the Hopi and Zuni classify them as "Clowns," whose role is performing lesser duties associated with kachina ceremonies, such as drumming, acting as announcer, awarding prizes and gifts (as this one is apparently doing), and generally interacting with the audience. But because Koyemshi knew how to bring rain, others call him a kachina. He is often considered neither human, nor kachina, but occupying a position, and connection, between the two.

They are always dressed in black, with a brown mask with brown clay-covered balls, which are placed to represent human-like facial features. Bodies are painted with a reddish clay.

Because they are relatively simple in form, and "different" from other kachinas in their look, they are one of the most-popular of kachina dolls to make for sale. And because the Navajo (who don't have kachinas in their own religion or culture) have been making "copies" or complete "fantasy" figures only since the latter part of the 20th century, and this carving is accurate, but the arms appear to be carved separately (but not attached the way Zuni ones would be), I would suspect this is either Hopi, or made by a non-Indian. Since they weren't commonly signed then, there really is no way of telling, except by dating when it was carved, the style, and accuracy. I also think it appears to be mid-20th century, before so many copies were made, so it looks like Hopi, to me.

 

I'm eating all this info up. Thank you!!