Hermès Scarf Kachinas | Part 1 - The Rare and Well-known Kachinas

Kachinas’ Identities

Note: This article is an in-depth follow-up to “Kachinas Identities” (Part1, Part2, and Part 3) previously posted on my Instagram account: cloudwei.C on January 8th, 9th and 10th, 2020. A member of PurseForum plagiarised and incorrectly tweaked most of the information in there. A member of TPF reposted it on the thread “Scarf of The Day 2020” (page 1661-1683) in December 2020 without my consent. Imitation might be the highest form of flattery, but it clearly reflects the plagiariser’s incompetence and immoral conduct.

Connecting to the article “Kachinas' Background Information” would help you understand the Hermès scarf Kachinas better.

Photo credit to Hermès

The carré Kachinas was designed by the Waco artist Kermit Oliver, the first and the only American artist ever engaged in the Hermès scarf and first issued in 1992. As described in the 2019 Hermès catalogue, which was reissued in wash silk format: “Kachinas are ceremonial dolls given to Hopi children, Pueblo Indians residing in the southwestern part of the United States. As their name implies, the Hopi live peacefully – Hopituh Shi-nu-mu means “The Peaceful People”––and in harmony with spirits. Ancestors, clouds, gods of fire or rain, and mischievous or benevolent spirits are personified in religious ceremonies involving boys from the age of six during their initiation. A link between the real and invisible worlds, these brightly coloured wooden dolls charged with symbolism are given to children to familiarise them with their ancestral beliefs and rituals. ”

When unfurling the smooth and velvety wash carré, twenty-five colourful Kachina dolls are embraced in it. The artist, Mr. Kermit Oliver, transformed the carré into a Hopi mantel blanket, dotted with animal symbolism drawings, bows and birds. Surrounding the largest Kachina dolls at each corner are the greater roadrunner birds and ritual baskets filled with flowers, corn, squashes and pumpkins. The Greater Roadrunner is the symbolic medicine bird, and the Pueblo people believe it could protect them against evil spirits. The manner of wearing a Hopi mantel blanket has two styles. It can be worn over both shoulders and conceal the body heat to keep them warm. Or put it over one shoulder, under the other arm and tie a knot in front; it leaves one arm free from restriction.

The dolls are given to the children who may learn about their cultures and traditions. The Hopis create every Kachina with a particular set of characteristics, and distinctive personalities and play one or more roles during different ceremonies. There are over four hundred different types of Kachina in Pueblo's world. They range from deities, chiefs, warriors, guards, runners, dancers, domestic plants, animals, birds, insects, clouds, rains, clowns, and even death itself. In this article, twenty-five kachinas are divided into six groups:

the Rare and Well-Known Kachinas (5),
the Socially Responsible Kachinas(4),
the Order Maintaining Kachinas(5),
the Initiating, Educational, and the Legendary Kachinas (4),
the Agricultural Kachinas and the Weather Deity(6),
the Super Powerful Kachina. (1)

The Rare and Well-known Kachinas

These five Kachina dolls on diagonal and diagonal opposite lines in the carré wear the headdress tabletas. The headdress tableta is a wooden head tablet covered with deerskin or cloth with a pad inside to protect the dancer's head. A deerskin strip is attached to the tableta from ear to ear across the head's crown and ties under the chin to secure, just like the modern helmet.

Hopi Shalako Taka Cloud Man - Cloud Man and Cloud maiden are the tallest kachinas that make their dance strikingly. They represent deities of clouds in the sky and would bring moisture to crops. These personages appear so rarely; they have only been seen four times in the last hundred years. The original dolls were carved by Lowell Talashoma.

Hopi Shalako Taka Mana Cloud Woman - Cloud Maiden looks pretty similar to the Cloud Man; both costumes have eagle plumage. The eagle is a symbol of the sun or sky god. Over the years, the painted wooded feathers have replaced the necessary bird feather. She wears a pair of white colour boots and has more white colour on her face.

Sio Hemis Kachina stands at the opposite corner of the Hopi Cloud Man and Cloud Woman in the carré. The beautiful and best-known Sio Hemis wears an eye-catching tableta headdress with flower symbols and a Hopi embroidered rain sash; he is a dancer who invites abundant rain, hope, and prosperity to the village.

Nakiachop, Shalako Warrior, is a rare and brave Kachina. He would climb to the top of a long pole, swing and descend to the ground, and then climb up other poles to repeat the action in the ceremony. The National Museum of the American Indian has a similar one in its collection.

Water drinking girl, Palhik Mana, is not a kachina but rather a maiden's dance personage who brings rain and is often seen grinding corn with colourful plants and birds. Palhik Mana wears the tableta with cloud, butterfly and corn symbols.

CloudWei.C

Le Jardin de Cloud

Hermès Scarf Kachinas

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