Hopi Sheep Herder Kachina

The Sheep Herder (La lai Aya) Kachina dances during the Mountain Sheep dance and acts like a shepherd of the Mountain Sheep Kachinas.  He also appears at First Mesa as a guard or dance director.  On Second Mesa, he is considered a side dancer, where he dances alongside the Echo Kachina and yells at the lead singer.  On Third Mesa, he is considered a caretaker of buffalo, deer, antelope, etc.  

According to "Kachinas - Spirit Beings of the Hopi" it states that "The Kachina is usually danced by a boy.  The tale states, 'a boy was thrown out of his house and grew up with wild animals.  He came back as a Kachina to visit his mother.  If his mother recognized him, and claimed him, he would return to her as a boy.  If she did not recognize him, he remained a Kachina.'"   

This particular Sheep Herder Kachina has been carved and decorated very true to traditional Hopi form, with its blue case mask, mop of carved sheepskin hair and two carved feathers positioned horizontally on the top of the mask. The mouth is a small rectangle and there is an inverted "v" over the mouth.

The entire body is covered in a loose, painted netting.  He wears a carved ceremonial breech clout, held in place with a wide blue belt and red horsehair kilt.  The kilt shows natural folds which enhance the sense of reality.  He also wears a carved double bandolier that is draped over both shoulders, and a fox tail in back.  He carries a gourd rattle in his right hand and a Chief's wand in his left hand.  These wands are carried as a badge of office by certain Kachinas, priests or deities.

He has a very natural stance and has been caught in mid-dance, with his right foot raised and arms extended.  The Kachina shows excellent action and motion.  The proportions are perfect and the hands are extremely well detailed.

The Kachina was carved by Brian Honyouti, one of three famous Hopi brothers, who often carve Kachinas together. The Honyoutis, Loren, Brian and Ronald are originally from Bacavi, Arizona on the Hopi reservation. The Honyoutis are featured in many books on Hopi carving including, "Kachina Dolls" by Helga Tiewes and "The Art of the Hopi" by Jerry and Lois Jacka.  In Helga's book, Brian is written about extensively.  The Honyoutis are considered forerunners in the art of realistic carvings and are in a class of their own.

Brian was born in 1947 and lives in Hotevilla, Arizona on the Hopi reservation.  Brian started carving Kachinas in the mid 1960's, and learned his carving techniques from his father, who taught him how to make one-piece carvings.  Brian began using oil paints in 1978, and he is universally credited with being the first carver to use wood preservatives and varnish as a sealer, instead of the usual white undercoat.  Brian was also the first carver to substitute wood preservatives instead of paint, leaving the flesh areas unpainted and using the natural wood colors.  Brian rarely uses Dremel tools and wood burners, preferring to do all of his carving with pocket knives, chisels, hack-saw blades and small files. 

Brian has signed the doll on the back of the base: "BH"