Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 1990-0001-0079   CAS 1990-0001-0079; Katsina
Category Carvings
Object Name Katsina
Culture Hopi
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Arizona
County Navajo
Other Geographic Data
Maker's Name Homaunum (Debbie Drye) (b. 1952)
Date of Manufacture ca. 1980s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Cottonwood (Populus sp.) roots; Paint
Description Miniature 3-dimensional carved figurine in standing position, representing Angwusnasomtaka (Crow Mother) who is the mother of the Hu' or Whipper Katsinam and widely regarded as the mother of all katsinam; She supervises the initiation of children into the katsina cult during the Bean Dance; Figure wears carved and painted black dress, white shawl or manta, and white moccasins; Case mask is turquoise blue with stacked black triangles over area of eyes and mouth, and large black tabs (representing crow wings) on sides; Figure is mounted on cottonwood disk with bear print on top and signed "Homaunum" on underside.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 2.5, Width = 1.2, Depth = 0.8