Pictures I like

[SonicMan46]

That's a gorgeous carving, Dave.  Must have set you back a pretty penny--especially from a shop in Sedona!  I've always liked Kachinas.  I remember a shop in Scottsdale when I was a kid (and when Scottsdale was a small town!) that always had a nice display to fascinate me.

Hello David - we love that goat!  Purchased from the Kachina House in Sedona, as mentioned; we've actually shopped there in person a number of times - just love that place!  BTW, the price is shown in the link - we went w/ the small one (not only less expensive, but matched others in our collection); we did get a 10% discount as members of the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian (saw the ad in their magazine).

We now have about 8 or so 'good' Kachinas, i.e. most from Hopi carvers - don't know if you're interested in seeing some more, but I've posted these a while back; the first pic is our fireplace mantle in the den w/ our 'best' kachinas in-between a vase & sculpture (both bought in Taos, NM in the same shop years ago) - the picture is old, so the 'goat' has not been arranged in the mix yet!  

But for those interested, I've added some more 'close-ups' because the carving just can't be appreciated from afar; the 'Bear' kachina (our tallest @ about 12") was bought in Scottsdale; the others are from various other places.  Dave




 

 

[DavidRoss]

Nice, Dave!  Who is the figure on the bottom right?

I just did a little checking, see that a very pretty price is now being asked by master carvers (as they ought for carvings marketed to collectors).  Here are a couple by Milton Howard:

   

[Opus106]

Hello David - we love that goat!  Purchased from the Kachina House in Sedona, as mentioned; we've actually shopped there in person a number of times - just love that place!  BTW, the price is shown in the link - we went w/ the small one (not only less expensive, but matched others in our collection); we did get a 10% discount as members of the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian (saw the ad in their magazine).

We now have about 8 or so 'good' Kachinas, i.e. most from Hopi carvers - don't know if you're interested in seeing some more, but I've posted these a while back; the first pic is our fireplace mantle in the den w/ our 'best' kachinas in-between a vase & sculpture (both bought in Taos, NM in the same shop years ago) - the picture is old, so the 'goat' has not been arranged in the mix yet! 

But for those interested, I've added some more 'close-ups' because the carving just can't be appreciated from afar; the 'Bear' kachina (our tallest @ about 12") was bought in Scottsdale; the others are from various other places.  Dave

Thanks for taking the time to post photos, Dave. Those are very nice. I notice that some of the dolls (Goat, Bear, and Beaver) have white spots on their legs? Does that have any significance?

[SonicMan46]

Nice, Dave!  Who is the figure on the bottom right?

I just did a little checking, see that a very pretty price is now being asked by master carvers (as they ought for carvings marketed to collectors).  Here are a couple by Milton Howard:

   

David - just checked and I put the wrong link to our Billy Goat - correct one HERE, actually done by Milton Howard - those ones shown are quite beautiful; these come in a variety of sizes w/ of course escalating prices (same price & discount for the smaller piece).

The one you mentioned is shown below, front & back - one of my favorite stories (before the Billy Goat arrived -  ).  Lookin' in one of my handful of kachina books, she (sometimes hard to tell!) goes by the name of Soyoko or Soyok' Wuhti, which I can never remember, but English translation is Ogre Woman or Hunter Woman - the story is that she appears during one of the ceremonies and asks children to do chores for her and threatens to eat them if they do not; the crook in her hand is for catching the children and the blood-stained knife in the other hand for disposing of them; her tongue always seems to be stuck out, and on her back is a basket (not well seem in the pic, but if you look closely a child's eyes are staring from the slightly open lid of the basket).

BTW, the Owl & the Mouse Warrior (apparently a rarely carved Kachina) were both done by Watson Namoki who is just a superb carver.

Dave 

 

[SonicMan46]

Thanks for taking the time to post photos, Dave. Those are very nice. I notice that some of the dolls (Goat, Bear, and Beaver) have white spots on their legs? Does that have any significance?

Actually, the 'beaver' is suppose to be a Mouse Warrior - we bought that one in Tucson, AZ probably 15+ yrs ago; actually, it was our second 'good' kachina; Susan had been wanting to buy the cheaper ones w/ a lot of fur, leather, etc. - not bad, but just not like one carved well by a Hopi artist.  Well, she fell in love w/ this mouse, and the result over the years was all of these other ones on the mantel - our main rule is that we both have to really like it together - I want a Clown kachina, but she is balking at the thought unless it is really CUTE! Hmmm - 

Oh, concerning those 'white spots' - each of those dolls were carved by a different Hopi artist, and are likely just the way each wanted to paint their creations; doubt that there is much meaning other than decoration (but hey I'm not a real expert).  The carvers seem to take a LOT of liberty w/ certain types of kachinas, the Mudheads & the Clowns being often quite varied in their portrayal w/ often a lot of comic attributes.

But glad that you enjoy them - for those who may want to know more, I have about a half dozen books of various depths and can make a recommendation or two - Dave 

[Opus106]

Actually, the 'beaver' is suppose to be a Mouse Warrior

Oh! 

we bought that one in Tucson, AZ probably 15+ yrs ago; actually, it was our second 'good' kachina; Susan had been wanting to buy the cheaper ones w/ a lot of fur, leather, etc. - not bad, but just not like one carved well by a Hopi artist.  Well, she fell in love w/ this mouse, and the result over the years was all of these other ones on the mantel - our main rule is that we both have to really like it together - I want a Clown kachina, but she is balking at the thought unless it is really CUTE! Hmmm - 

Oh, concerning those 'white spots' - each of those dolls were carved by a different Hopi artist, and are likely just the way each wanted to paint their creations; doubt that there is much meaning other than decoration (but hey I'm not a real expert).  The carvers seem to take a LOT of liberty w/ certain types of kachinas, the Mudheads & the Clowns being often quite varied in their portrayal w/ often a lot of comic attributes.

But glad that you enjoy them - for those who may want to know more, I have about a half dozen books of various depths and can make a recommendation or two - Dave 

Thanks, Dave. Seems like you and your wife collect Kachinas like kids do action figures , but I'm sure your enthusiasm for the carved dolls will last much, much longer.

[SonicMan46]

Oh! 

Thanks, Dave. Seems like you and your wife collect Kachinas like kids do action figures , but I'm sure your enthusiasm for the carved dolls will last much, much longer.

Opus & David - agree w/ the above; when we decide to purchase a nice work of art, then we do have to agree! 

But, after my story to David about the Ogre Woman, I was disappointed in the pics - just do not show the wonderful detail of these carved dolls; so, I did some repeat filming outside this afternoon and below I've uploaded some MUCH better lookin' pics - hope all will enjoy - Dave 

 

[mahler10th]

 0:)

[DavidRoss]

But, after my story to David about the Ogre Woman, I was disappointed in the pics - just do not show the wonderful detail of these carved dolls; so, I did some repeat filming outside this afternoon and below I've uploaded some MUCH better lookin' pics - hope all will enjoy - Dave 

Gorgeous, Dave.  Thanks for the improved pics!

[Lethevich]

Dungeons & Dragons at its most inspired.

[Opus106]

Gorgeous, Dave.  Thanks for the improved pics!

Guess I missed those. Yes, great pictures. Spooky little fellow (child?) peeking out from the bag.



A recent upload from the most prolific uploaders at Flickr that I know of; and it's quality stuff, not 7 different poses of the pet cat in 7 hours. Thomas Hawk.

Across a Corner

[SonicMan46]

Guess I missed those. Yes, great pictures. Spooky little fellow (child?) peeking out from the bag.

Hi Opus - yep, a child caught by the Ogre Woman's crook and put in her basket - think the child is trying to escape; presume that this 'spirit' was created by the Hopi to put some 'fear' in their children - but, that extra feature probably convinced us to buy this particular doll - just part of the 'thrill' in finding a carving that seems to appeal or 'to speak' to you - Dave 

[Cato]

I cannot copy the picture to the page, but here is one of the greatest shots I have seen in years:

Nepalese Musicians outside the house of King Gyanendra!  (See the Wall Street Journal today, p. A8)


http://www.daylife.com/photo/0dEr5Nd0L38W9

[DavidRoss]

[karlhenning]

I cannot copy the picture to the page, but here is one of the greatest shots I have seen in years:

Nepalese Musicians outside the house of King Gyanendra!  (See the Wall Street Journal today, p. A8)

Oops! Sorry to be slow to comply, mon vieux!

[karlhenning]

Thanks, Dave!

[Cato]

Thanks Dave and Karl!

There should be a Pulitzer Prize for the photographer...unnamed on the Reuters website where the picture appears.   

[karlhenning]

Delightfully ebullient picture!

[bhodges]

I cannot copy the picture to the page, but here is one of the greatest shots I have seen in years:

Nepalese Musicians outside the house of King Gyanendra!  (See the Wall Street Journal today, p. A8)


http://www.daylife.com/photo/0dEr5Nd0L38W9

That is one fabulous photo.

--Bruce

[The Six]

Any sissies wanna complain about this?