Kachina Priest with the Long Horn - Saiyatasha Katsina - Lot 40

Kachina Priest with the Long Horn - Saiyatasha Katsina Zuni, New Mexico Carved wood, pigments, fabric, nails, feathers H. 26 cm (without base and feathers) Circa 1930 Provenance : - Néret-Minet sale, Drouot, Paris, October 25, 2002, lot 28 - Collection Léo Scheer & Nathalie Rheims, acquired at the above sale A majestic Spirit in charge of the elements... This Kachina is the rare representation of the Northern Rain Priest (Saiyatasha), also known as the Longhorn Katsina. According to Barton Wright in his book Kachinas of the Zuñi, Saiyatasha is a spirit of prime importance who appears only during the Shalako ceremony. He commands the elements and thus controls the weather. He can also ensure the longevity and health of the inhabitants, while protecting them from their enemies. The period during which a Kachina Zuni dancer embodies Saiyatasha brings with it heavy responsibilities, and the dancer is recognized as having great prestige: he himself is considered a high priest. It is therefore he who must decide on the calendar of Kachina ceremonies for the entire year, based on the phases of the moon that he will observe throughout the year. In particular, he sets the date for the Shalako ceremony. He must also learn the chants and prayers of this ceremony, and take part in the nightly sessions in the kiva (underground sacred chamber) held between the Zuni New Year and the Shalako ceremony. As Saiyatasha is the Kachina who controls the weather, the dancer who embodies her is expected to make daily prayers to the sun and ensure that seeds, sowing and harvesting do not freeze during the year.