Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0496-0017   CAS 0496-0017; Katsina
Category Carvings
Object Name Katsina
Culture Hopi
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Arizona
County Navajo
Other Geographic Data Hopi Indian Reservation
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1940s to 1950s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Cottonwood (Populus sp.) roots; Paint
Description 3-dimensional carved legless figure, probably representing Palhik Mana (Water Drinking Girl or Butterfly Girl) or Salako Mana (Shalako Girl); Figure is carved in the somewhat flat form typical of figures intended as gifts to infants, known as Cradle Katsinam; Figure is dressed in carved and painted white dress with pale blue and muddy yellow shawl, and shell, coral, and turquoise necklace; Face of mask is painted with rainbow-colored triangular motif on chin and carved and painted black and white bar above eyes, representing corn husk bundle; Elaborate terraced tableta one sides and top of mask is painted pale blue; Muddy yellow, and brick red; Figure's long flowing hair is painted on reverse; Figure originally had chicken feather at each apex of tableta and black feather at each end of corn husk on face.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 15.3, Depth = 2.4, Length = 17.5