An Early Hopi Tableta on Cottonwood

Hopi

Circao 1900 | Wood, Paint on board | Item 2609

This is a smaller Hopi tableta carved out of cottonwood and painted with mineral paints. While it has much paint loss, the effect has created an artistic expression in its own way. The outer tops have kiva steps, and the inner portion is made of three clouds. On the lower aspects on each side are visible two circles cut into 8 equal slices colored red, white, green and yellow. In the mid area are two cutouts, each like kiva steps or perhaps an elongated cross. The back is painted with white gesso. The parts are all attached with raw hide and not cotton string, as found on later examples. A piece of old raw hide hangs from the center, for what reason I do not know. This is the most charming and expressive tableta!