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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Taupou, post: 3541641, member: 45&quot;]The additional photos helped.&nbsp; (Seeing them now on the computer screen, instead of on the phone, also makes a difference!)&nbsp; I didn&#039;t realize before that the ruff was hiding important marking on his cheeks.&nbsp; Perhaps that is one reason that about half the time Talavai is depicted without the green ruff.</p><p><br /></p><p>The pheasant feathers now seem an added attempt to hide the fact that he is missing his red tab ears.&nbsp; In the 1980s most Hopi carvers started carving feathers, when U.S. laws prohibited using most wild bird feathers.&nbsp; Now the use of pheasant feathers (along with rabbit fur, and lots of leather), is pretty much a sign of a Navajo carving, rather than an authentic Hopi kachina.&nbsp; So, if this is an earlier (mid-20th century) Hopi kachina doll, which it appears to be, the feathers were probably added by a former owner rather than by the maker.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;d agree, with the additional information, it does appear to be Talavai, but missing some important pieces, and with some ill-advised attempts to make him look a little better. </p><p><br /></p><p>Today he appears primarily during the Powamu, or Bean Planting dances which are held in late January/early February, so it&#039;s very appropriate that he shows up here, at this time![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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