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Katsina dolls are an important and cherished part of the
Hopi culture. These dolls are representations of one of the
hundreds of Katsinam, or Hopi spirit guides, who are believed to
live primarily in the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. They
descend from the mountains as the winter season wanes to help
villagers tend to the fields, care for the children, and tackle
any other major task required to encourage the community and
land to flourish. The Katsinam stay through late July when the
planting and growing seasons have ended. At that time they take
their leave of the Hopi and return to their home in the
mountains of Arizona. During the time that the Katsinam are
visiting the Hopi villages, numerous dances are held to both
celebrate a particular natural event or remind the people of the
village of the significant presence of the Katsinam, and to help
the children learn about these sacred beings and what each of
them represents. During these dances, the Hopi men will don
costumes and will "personate" an individual Katsina, which is
represented by a specific mask, color patterns and physical
characteristics. Full-figure Katsinam are carved, to represent a
specific Katsina and to help the child become acquainted with
that particular spirit. These full-figure carvings, referred to
as dolls, are carefully carved from the strong, light root of
the cottonwood tree and then painted with the particular colors
of the specific Katsina the doll represents.
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What are Kachinas? There are hundreds
of Hopi Katsinam, "personations" of supernatural beings,
important animals and ancestors who help the Hopi people raise
their crops, their children, and their spirits. The Katsina
dancers are men wearing masks--each of which represents a
particular Katsina--and paint and feathered costumes. Everyone
in the village, aside from the children, knows that the Katsina
dancers are actually men from the village, though Katsinam are
still believed to have supernatural powers. Much of the value in
these dances is found to be instructing the young. Signed and
numbered.
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A'hote is
considered a good hunter. He may appear in any of the
directional colors, the two most common being the Yellow
(Sikyahote) or the Blue (Sakwahote). The A'hote is the Grand
Katsina Uncle of the Mixed Katsina Group and appears in the
Mixed Dances. The A'hote is painted in two different ways, one
version appears with planets on his mask. The other A'hote
version has a "split" mask with different colors on each side.
Both seem to be derived from a Plains Indian because he wears a
long trailing eagle feather headdress. 9" Native American
Hopi Carved Blue Ahote Hunter Katsina Doll by Preston Youvella $450
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The
Bear (Hon) Katsina appears in the Mixed Dance. This great
and powerful leader possesses spiritual strength used to
protect and cure the sick. The Bear Katsina is considered to
be the number two healer for the people. His knowledge of
herbs and roots gives him the power to heal the sick. The
Bear symbolizes power, strength, courage, wisdom and
healing. 10" $450 Native American Hopi Carved
Bear Powerful Leader Katsina Doll by Milton Jordan
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Aholi is
a Native American Hopi high priest who appears only on Third
Mesa and in the company of Eototo during the Powamuya Ceremony.
This Katsina is the ancient of the Pikyas Clan. Legend has it
that Aholi, left behind to fight a rear guard action, followed
Eototo through migrations that took them from Mexico to Utah and
from the Colorado River to the Rio Grande and back to their
present location on Third Mesa. The two Katsinam come out of the
Chief Kiva during Powamuya and perform the rites described under
Eototo. Aholi is a beautiful Katsina in his cloak and tall blue
helmet, but he is of less importance than the very plain Eototo
and is often called Eototo's Lieutenant. When Eototo places his
cloud mark on the ground, Aholi puts the butt of his staff upon
it and swinging the staff around calls out, "A--holi-i-i-i" and
then follows his chief to the next mark. His actions appear to
be reinforcing Eototo's actions. 13" $520
Native American Hopi Carved Aholi Priest Katsina Doll by Deloria
Adams BUY NOW |
Like
most animal Katsinam, the Buffalo (Mosairu) dances to increase
his kind. This Katsina is very well known and is most powerful.
He can kill any evil thoughts and is a great spiritual
protector. 9" $520
Native American Hopi Carved Buffalo Great Spiritual Protector
Katsina Doll by Dan Bert
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Palhik
Mana is a Butterfly Maiden; not a Katsina, but a woman dancer.
Though at the dances the Butterfly Maiden is not masked or
hooded, she generally appears this way when carved as a doll.
Her tablita (headdress) carries symbols for corn and
butterflies, which pollinate the corn helping to bring a good
harvest. She generally appears in August, as that is when the
butterflies appear. The Butterfly Dance, a traditional social
dance of the Hopi, is held in August after the gathering of the
harvest and presentation of the Snake Dance. It is a
thanksgiving dance for the harvest, chiefly for the corn crop. Native
American Hopi Carved Butterfly Maiden Doll by Norman Cuch
9.5" $450
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As
a general rule the Red Tail Hawk (Palakwayo) appears
individually, when it functions more as sergeant-at-arms or
policeman. In this role they either enforce an action, such as
community cleaning, or act as guards to prevent the approach of
anyone or anything to the proximity of a location or ceremony.
When the Red Tail Hawk appears with other Guard or Warrior
Katsinam in a group they are functioning as warriors. They
surround the more sacred Katsinam as a small but ferocious army
of fearsome creatures. 9" $450 Native
American Hopi Carved Red Tail Hawk Guard Katsina Doll by Donald
Sockyma
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Sunface
(Tawa) Katsina represents the spirit of the sun. This leader of
ceremonies brings warmth, shelter for the old, a bright future,
and playfulness for the young and is considered one of the more
powerful Katsinam because the Sun is thought to be the brightest
and largest of all the stars and essential to life and growth.
This is a wonderful Sunface by Lendell. 10" $520
Native American Hopi Carved Sunface Katsina Doll by Lendell Roy
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The
Wildcat (Tokoch) Katsina is one of the Angry Katsinam and
appears when there is work to be done in the community such as
the cleaning of the springs. He makes sure that no one is idle
when there is work to be done 8.75" $450
Native American Hopi Carved Wildcat Angry Katsina
Doll by Alexander Youvella Sr.
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The
Mudhead (Koyemsi) leads the racers into the village and
challenges villagers in contests to prove their strength. During
the rests in a dance, Mudheads may engage in games with the boys
and girls in the audience. At other times, only a single Mudhead
may appear as a drummer for a group. Should a dancer not have
the proper mask or be late in arriving, he can easily become a
Mudhead by donning that mask. These Katsinam appear in almost
every Hopi dance. This particular Mudhead is the first
full-figure Katsina that Jacob Warner has carved. He did a great
job. 9" $450 Native American Laguna Carved Hopi
Mudhead Katsina Doll by Jacob Warner |
The
Wolf (Kweo) is often seen in the Soyohim Dances accompanied by
the Deer or Mountain Sheep Katsina. He
carries a stick that represents the trees and bushes that he
uses to hide in whenever he stalks his prey. The Wolf Katsina's
sharp teeth are always visible and, sometimes, his lolling
tongue. His sharp teeth are visible to boast the wolf's prowess
as a hunter. When he appears in the dance with the Deer or
Mountain Sheep, they are always wary of him because of their
natural relationship as prey for the Wolf. After the dance, it
is customary for the Hopi to offer the Kweo Katsina cornmeal
and, in return, the Kweo Katsina blesses them on their hunt.
9" Native American Hopi Carved Wolf Hunter Katsina Doll by Harry
Bert $450
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