12
1/2"
tall
SOLD
plus shipping & insurance |
The Toson
Koyemsi, or Sweet Tasting Corn Meal Kachina, is the Uncle of the
Nataskas and his main function is to taste the cornmeal that the
girls of the village have ground at the order of the Nataskas.
If the corn meets the Toson's approval, he takes the cornmeal to the
Kiva.
The Toson is most easily identified by the striped blanket wrapped
around his body and the bean sprout markings on the cheeks and
forehead. He wears a red neckerchief and is carrying a feather
in his hand. He wears a black maiden's dress with purple
trim. Also, there s a traditional red hopi belt at the waist.
The Kachina has been carved from a single piece of cottonwood root.
The only parts that have been added is the feather in the hand and the
items on the head.
This carving was created by
Hopi artist John Fredericks. John's work is very much in demand and
his pieces are true works of art. John was born in 1949 in
Kykotsmovi, Arizona and currently lives in Phoenix.
John has developed a special technique that enables him to achieve a
wonderful and unique patina, as shown in the pictures. The
wood has been enriched using stains and oils, a John Fredericks
specialty.
John's favorite type of Kachina to carve are sculpture style
Kachinas, because he prefers to work with those pieces of wood that
lend themselves to the shapes of sculptures...he can retain the
natural shape of the wood.
John Fredericks is featured in the book "Kachina Dolls, The Art
of Hopi Carvers" by Helga Tiewes on page 123 and John is one of
25 carvers featured in "Hopi Kachina Dolls and Their
Carvers" by Theda Bassman, on pages 60-63. John is originally
from Kykotsmovi, Arizona and currently resides in Phoenix.
In that book, John states: "When I am carving, I breathe it and
think what it means to myself and my people. It's what we believe
in. It's my spiritual food. It's something that is a part of us.
It's part of the land where we live."
John has signed the doll "JF" on the bottom of the base.
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