Navajo Imitator and Tasap Kachin Mana - Brian Honyouti, Hopi Katsina Doll
This is a wonderful carving. The male figure is called the Navajo Imitator. The female is a Tasap Kachin Mana. The Navajo maiden dances alongside the Tasap at the kachina dances. There are many variations of the Tasap, including the Imitator. This is not really a figure from Navajo culture but rather a Hopi interpretation (not necessarily flattering) of their Hopi neighbors. In the book A Hopi Artist's Documentary by Barton Wright there is information about the Tasap and the Tasap mana.
This kachina was carved by Brian Honyouti, one of three famous Hopi brothers, who often carve 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 in the village of Hotevilla, Arizona on the Hopi reservation. He 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. He 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. He rarely uses Dremel tools and wood burners, preferring to do all of his carving with pocket knives, chisels, hack-saw blades and small files.
He has signed the doll on the back of the base: "BH"
Item No.: KD.00011
Artist: Brian Honyouti
Size: 10 in H
Price: 1,350
