Henry Naha
Stone Eater
13" H
with 1" base
"This is an ogre/whipper
type Kachina. It is usually seen during the fast parade, although
he has been known to come during night dances. He is one of the
Kachinas who appears at the beginning of the Kachina season in
February and/or March usually during Powamu or Bean Dance ceremony.
"Among his functions
is to gather men and bring them to the kiva to participate in
ceremonies. He is frequently seen fussily attacking the mudheads
who harass him. This Kachina is so ill-tempered that he eats
rocks as a result of his angry temperament and basic frustration.
He appears with three different faces on each of the different
mesas."
- Ricks, J. Brent, et al., Kachinas:
Spirit Beings of the Hopi (18)
Henry Naha is a well known carver
who specializes in detailed carvings.
Henry is of the Spider and
Lizard clans, and signs his dolls with his clan hallmark followed
by "H. Naha." His Navajo last name is Attakai, but
he takes the name of Naha as a result of his Hopi adoption and
cultural heritage.
He was taught be one of the
masters - Cecil Calnimptewa, who is his Hopi godfather; and was
the husband of Avonne Naha Attakai, also a talented carver.
He has been an active carver
for over 20 years and learned from others such as Denis Tewa
and Joseph Dallas.
Henry has really established
himself as a top-tier kachina carver - an expert.
The kachina has been carved
from a single piece of cottonwood root. The only parts that have
been added are the smallest accents. Even the base is from the
single piece of cottonwood root.
The doll has an excellent
stance and pose...which suggest great strength and pride. The
body proportions are perfect and the Kachina has well defined
musculature. The hands are extremely well carved with detailed
fingers and fingernails.
