Rare Early 20th C. Pueblo Kachina Helmet Mask with Cottonwood Snout & Horsehair
Native American, Southwestern United States, Pueblo, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A kachina helmet mask formed as a cylindrical case mask of stiffened leather, its crown laced shut with a leather thong. The mask is identified as Sekya, and its face is framed by a black-outlined of pale green and red panels divided by a band of black triangles. Two eyes of gathered leather, stuffed with hair and painted with black pupils, hang from the face, with sight holes cut beneath them and at the base of the snout. The snout is carved from cottonwood, painted black, and ends in a gridded row of white teeth. A long lock of horsehair lies across the crown, and leather ties extend from the base. Masks of this type were worn by dancers in Pueblo ceremony. Size: 10" H x 14" L x 8.5" Diam (25.4 cm H x 35.6 cm L x 21.6 cm Diam).
The cylindrical "case" helmet, made from a single sheet of hide stitched into a tube and closed with a separate crown, is one of the oldest Pueblo mask types. It also makes a good base for added parts: carved snouts, ball eyes, horsehair, and feathers were tied or pegged on and often repainted between ceremonies. Cottonwood, which is light and easy to carve, was used for these additions, just as it was used for carved katsina dolls. The soft, chalky pigments seen here are typical of mineral and earth paints, which wear and get touched up over many seasons of use.
Provenance: private California, USA collection
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #206165
Condition
Fading and losses to pigments as shown. Feathers were probably attached to the hair, and are missing. Wear as expected with age and use, but overall great condition!
Native American, Southwestern United States, Pueblo, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A kachina helmet mask formed as a cylindrical case mask of stiffened leather, its crown laced shut with a leather thong. The mask is identified as Sekya, and its face is framed by a black-outlined of pale green and red panels divided by a band of black triangles. Two eyes of gathered leather, stuffed with hair and painted with black pupils, hang from the face, with sight holes cut beneath them and at the base of the snout. The snout is carved from cottonwood, painted black, and ends in a gridded row of white teeth. A long lock of horsehair lies across the crown, and leather ties extend from the base. Masks of this type were worn by dancers in Pueblo ceremony. Size: 10" H x 14" L x 8.5" Diam (25.4 cm H x 35.6 cm L x 21.6 cm Diam).
The cylindrical "case" helmet, made from a single sheet of hide stitched into a tube and closed with a separate crown, is one of the oldest Pueblo mask types. It also makes a good base for added parts: carved snouts, ball eyes, horsehair, and feathers were tied or pegged on and often repainted between ceremonies. Cottonwood, which is light and easy to carve, was used for these additions, just as it was used for carved katsina dolls. The soft, chalky pigments seen here are typical of mineral and earth paints, which wear and get touched up over many seasons of use.
Provenance: private California, USA collection
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #206165
Condition
Fading and losses to pigments as shown. Feathers were probably attached to the hair, and are missing. Wear as expected with age and use, but overall great condition!
