LobbyThe Kachina Motel
All content copyright 2013 Peggy DeMouthe ® The Kachina Motel
Hopi katsinas: repair and restoration
To be honest, this guide is more about why not to repair a kachina--it's not going to give instructions or "how-to's." However my hope is that it will help both buyers and sellers to know why some repairs are OK and others can ruin the value of their doll.
Have you ever bought a kachina on Ebay or elsewhere and have it arrive with bits broken off? I can't count the times I've poured out a boxful of packing peanuts and found a rattle, a horn, an ear...argh!
Tips for proper packing follow, but first let's discuss the repair and restoration of kachinas. In the cases above, a small dab of white glue is your friend. In most cases the parts that come off do break at an existing seam or joint, so a repair is not noticeable and should not affect the value of the doll. Ideally, to be properly archival, one should use polyvinyl acetate (PVA), a chemically neutral white glue--but regular old Elmer's is fine for most work. Many Hopi artists use plain yellow wood glue.
What about significant missing pieces (arms and legs), paint damage, broken feathers, and other more extreme restoration challenges? In the museum world the motto is: When In Doubt, Do Nothing. The goal is to maintain the object as-found. Since many kachinas have received damage in everyday handling by their original (Hopi) owners, any wear and tear should be considered normal or native to the piece. Native repairs--that is, work done by the original maker or owner before the item enters the economy--should be kept as-is and not reversed.
Collectors, on the other hand, view a damaged or incomplete doll as a poor investment. As in any discipline, condition is everything to the value of the item—so it is tempting to try to "fix" things. The bad news is that most amateur attempts at repair actually cause more damage in the long term--like the well-meaning folks who think all kachinas need to have a base, and carefully nail, screw, or glue a doll meant as a wall-hanger onto a slab of pine. I have one vintage Small River kachina that someone glued firmly to the base of another doll and sold as a Snow Maiden by another artist, even though the original doll still has its cotton hanging-string. Trying to remove the doll from the base would certainly damage it, so I've left it as-is, however reluctantly.
I have done minimal repair work on the dolls that I acquire. If a modern piece is damaged, it's often possible to track down the original artist and commission a repair that is appropriate to the doll. In the case of old or vintage dolls, any attempt to restore things yourself should be resisted. Paint touch-ups especially can ruin the value of a doll. There are conservators who specialize in professional restoration, and as long as the repair/replacement is documented as part of the provenance of the doll, it's fine to make this investment. Just understand that you will still not have an as-new product.
Do your homework on how each kachina should appear; before you bid or purchase, ask about any missing parts or regalia. It is your decision whether you want to buy a doll that has had "work" done on it, but in general if the repair is not easily reversible your investment may not be worth it. If in doubt about how much to do to your own dolls, seek advice from another collector or from a reputable dealer. Remember the museum motto: when in doubt, do nothing.
In closing: a tip about packing. These dolls need support for their feathers and other sticky-outy bits. I recommend a gentle tie-down onto a flat piece of cardboard that is slightly larger than any feather fans or pahos, and always wrap the doll in tissue or something to protect it from smudges and to capture anything that may come loose. Use crumpled newspaper or plastic grocery bags as packing material, to provide support as well as flexibility. If you want to use packing peanuts, first put down a layer of them, then a flattened plastic grocery bag, before laying the kachina down; the bag will keep the doll from drifting through the peanuts to the bottom of the box. Then add other padding and peanuts to fill the box just so the flaps will close easily. The ideal packing job is with a double box, which provides (literally) an extra level of protection.
Your investment in authentic kachinas is worth protecting. If you are a seller, your attention to detail and care for your products will win you loyal customers, I guarantee it.
