Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 0520-0038   CAS 0520-0038; 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; Plastic; Felt; Wool yarn; Twine; Leather; Shells
Description 3-dimensional carved figure in standing position, representing Mongwu (Great Horned Owl Katsina), a warrior who disciplines the clowns if their behavior becomes too outrageous; His body is painted a flesh tone with large white ovals on his arms, legs, chest, and back; He wears a black felt breechclout, carved and painted orange moccasins with brown cuffs, carved and painted white buckskin cape, green yarn wristlet on right wrist, leather and shell bracelet on left wrist, and turquoise colored plastic tab necklace; His case mask is painted mottled gray with flaring side wings, circular yellow eyes, down-turned yellow beak, and yellow neck ruff; He carries green plastic fern in right hand and white bow in left hand.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 31.4, Width = 16.5, Depth = 11.5