* Kachina Disheveled - Motsin Katsina - Lot 26

* Kachina Disheveled - Motsin Katsina Hopi, Arizona Carved wood, pigments, leather, fabric H. 26 cm (without base and fur) Mid-twentieth century Provenance : - Collection Galerie Flak, Paris - Collection Léo Scheer & Nathalie Rheims, acquired above in 2003 Published: - Esprit Kachina, Barton Wright, Julien Flak, 2003, page 131 Beware, this impressive black-faced, diamond-eyed Kachina dancer is showing his teeth... Despite his black-and-white striped costume, this spirited character doesn't belong to the Hopi clown family. On the contrary, he's a Kachina Guardian character who, during his ceremonial appearances, shows up armed with a bow, arrows and a whip. He doesn't hesitate to use them if he notices a lack of commitment or effort on the part of the Hopis when carrying out community tasks such as cleaning the ponds. Motsin "L'Échevelé" or the "Ragged" intervenes more and more rarely at Kachina dances. He is still sometimes seen today on the Second Mesa. This spectacular, exuberantly costumed, moving figure corresponds to the Hopi sculpture styles of the mid-twentieth century.