The Kachina Motel
 All content copyright 2013 Peggy DeMouthe     ® The Kachina Motel
Katsina dolls: the real and the fake
This guide will illustrate some of the things discussed in our other guides--the difference between a real Hopi kachina (katsina) and fakes from a Navajo factory or a person out to deceive buyers. 

Fake kachinas come in several flavors. The first type is the tourist doll made as a souvenir, which is not really intended to be anything other than a memento of a trip to the Southwest. These have little resemblance to an authentic kachina. The next and most common type is the mass-produced doll that is made to look somewhat like a real kachina and is given the name of a real one; these are the ones you will see most frequently on sites like Ebay. Finally, there is the doll made on purpose to deceive; these are often made to seem like antiques.

The authentic kachinas I'm using as illustrations are from my own collection, and the images of various fakes are ones that I've been collecting for some time for educational purposes. Let's take a look at the good, the bad, and the exceptionally ugly. (Click images to see larger size.)
Type I: Souvenirs

Here is a cute little "Route 66 kachina" that I bought in 2007. This is a new doll and the cost was $5. The interesting thing is that this fellow looks  exactly like his vintage counterparts from the 1950s, which sell for $15 to $25. If a souvenir has been made the same way for 50 years or more, is the new one a "fake" of the old one? It's very confusing!

As an alternative, here are small but authentic Hopi dolls. These are also called "Route 66 kachinas" and the style has been around for 50 years also. Yet even this simple form can be recognized as Hopi because each doll has the proper body paint and face. So, for a few dollars more one can have a memento what will maintain its value. These little kachinas are also quite collectible (the Pooley family still makes them) and are a great way to start 
a collection.
Type 2: In name only

Navajo "kachina" dolls are cheap imitations, and while many may fall into the souvenir category, an inexperienced buyer may think he or she is getting a real Hopi doll because it is named Morning Singer, Eagle, Hemis, or Buffalo, and because it has some similarity to a real kachina. In reality these items are made in assembly-line fashion, with bodies made by one person, paint applied by another, and clothing and accessories applied by others.
One, two, three--kick! These are typical Navajo factory-made dolls, poorly made, over-decorated, and easily recognized. The extensive use of rabbit fur are the giveaways, as are the made-up kilt designs, overenthusiastic application of yarn, painted feathers, and brightly colored leather clothing and fringe.

Slightly more misleading are dolls made to look more like authentic Hopi kachinas--Eagles are a favorite. Dolls like the one shown at left (priced at $399!) appear frequently. Rabbit fur and long fringe are warning signs to look closely at the workmanship and design.
Below you can see the difference between a Hopi Hemis kachina and a Navajo fake. The fake has a suede kilt, an elaborate but inaccurate tableta, and black fringe--as well as the seemingly requisite rabbit fur. The Hopi dolls, while of differing ages and styles, all have coloring and designs consistent with tradition.
Click images to see full size.