Naha, Rainy – Large “Water Bearers” Jar with Hemis Mana & Longhair Mana Katsinam

10.5"w x 6"h

$ 3,000.00

This jar continues Rainy Naha’s use of female Katsina figures on her pottery.  The jar is inspired by the importance of water to Hopi.  There are four different katsinas painted onto the surface.  There is a Red Beard Longhair Mana, a Hemis Mana, and two different Longhair Manas from both Home Dance and one from the Mixed Dance. Each of them is very intricately painted using bee-weed (black) and various colors of clay.  Each of the katsinas has a different meaning but the connection with each of them is water.  The Longhair Manas bring rain in the summer and appear throughout Katsina season from Bean Dance to Home Dance.  The Hemis Mana appears at the Home Dance at the end of the katsina season.  Note how each of them has a feather on their head similar in style to Rainy’s signature.  They each are depicted holding a gourd. They use a rasp against the gourd to create a musical sound during the katsina dances. They are each painted in an older style and yet there is incredible detail in the hair whorls.  Separating them are elongated panels with a variety of Hopi-Tewa designs including cloud, snow, four directions, and eternity designs.  All the various colors are derived from natural clay slips.  Rainy is well known for her use of different colors of clay on her pottery. The body of the piece is a white clay that is stone polished before it is painted. The jar was traditionally fired so there are light blushes on the surface.  It is signed on the bottom with a feather and “Rainy”.  Rainy has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Market and her work continues to be a creative inspiration in Hopi-Tewa pottery.