Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 0520-0008   CAS 0520-0008; 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. 1960s
Collection Name Owings Collection (Hopi Katsinam)
Materials Cottonwood (Populus sp.) roots; Paint; Wild turkey feathers; Rabbit fur; Wool yarn
Description 3-dimensional carved figure in standing position, representing Tawa Katsina (Sun Katsina) who appears in the mixed dance; His upper torso is painted red, with his right shoulder, left forearm, and right leg painted pale blue and his left shoulder, right forearm, and left leg painted yellow; He wears carved and painted white kilt, dance sash, brown moccasins, and red bandolier; His sack mask is white and the sun-shaped face is painted pale blue on lower half with black rectangular eyes and triangular mouth; Upper half of face is half orange and half yellow; Mask is encircled by row of trimmed wild turkey feathers (instead of the usual white eagle feathers) and back of mask is covered with gray feathers; Neck ruff is made of brown rabbit fur.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 36.1, Width = 13.0, Depth = 10.5