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How to recognize authentic Hopi kachinas, page 2
Tabletas: Certain kachinas and social-dance figures wear tabletas made of thin pieces of wood. Traditionally these are lashed together with twine or strips of leather, but modern ones may be made of a single piece of plywood, particleboard, or even cardboard. Many fake antique dolls have tabletas, but are easy to spot because the shapes are wrong and the symbols used on them are random, inaccurate, or just plain weird. All the dolls shown here are authentic.
Recognizing variations: There are plenty of "mythconceptions" about how a real kachina should look. You may have heard that dolls must be made from one piece of wood, or that only carved feathers are allowed. Not so: carvers often use smaller pieces of cottonwood root for arms and legs, and feather-work is a sophisticated and dramatic addition to many modern dolls, particularly from carvers of the new traditional style. Carved feathers are certainly OK and can be as simple or ornate as the artist chooses. Makers of fine-art kachina carvings make figures with exceptional detail!
The four Eagle (Kwahu) kachinas shown here are from different eras, but you will notice that there is not a bit of rabbit fur to be seen--unlike the Navajo fake to the right. One of the authentic dolls wears a whole bird skin with wings along the arms; the others use either carved or real feathers. Eagles are a favorite among fine-art kachina carvers, old-style carvers, and makers of fakes--yet as you can see here, they can look very different but all still should share the same characteristics.
Finally, let's look at how kachina dolls show their age. These objects are extremely brittle and it is pretty normal to see older dolls with missing ears, hands, and especially feet. For a century-old doll this may affect the value only slightly, but it is always preferable to have a kachina as intact as possible. What will certainly devalue a doll is a poor repair or any over-painting--so resist the temptation to "fix" things.
Patterns of wear on authentic older kachinas should be consistent with normal handling and display. Wallhanger dolls of any age should mainly show wear on their backs and on parts in high relief that may hit or rub against the wall. Minor smudging of paint may also be seen, since older pigments are less stable; modern dolls painted with mineral pigments may also be at risk for some smudging, especially the black color. Fake dolls are often "distressed" and you can see from the examples below that they may be smudged, smoked, scraped, sanded, or otherwise dinged-up to appear old--yet the patterns of the wear are not appropriate.
Thanks for reading this far! While it's impossible to cover all the different kachinas and their many variations, I hope that this guide has given some helpful tips to help you separate the real gems from the mass of fake kachinas, and protect your investment. Being familiar with the actual appearance, regalia, and associated items belonging to kachinas will be good insurance! Please see my other guides for suggested reading and online resources, and remember, if you have doubts about any object, don't be shy about asking questions. A reputable and knowledgeable seller or trader will be happy to share his or her information.
Askwali! (thanks!)
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