Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 0520-0062   CAS 0520-0062; 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
Collection Name Owings Collection (Hopi Katsinam)
Materials Cottonwood (Populus sp.) roots; Paint; Buckskin; Horse (?) hair; Feathers
Description 3-dimensional carved figure in standing position with outstretched arms, representing Pachavu Hú Katsina (Pachavu Whipper Katsina), who appears only at the Bean Dance during initiation years and guards the bean plants in the kiva; Shoulders, forearms, and legs are painted white, while rest of body is black; He wears carved and painted white kilt with sash belt and dance sash, actual buckskin cape, and high-topped brown moccasins; Black case mask has upturned black horn on each side (painted with blue zigzag), black and white pop-out eyes, rectangular leather mouth, and brown hair beard with white bands across it; Large white dot is painted on each cheek and white cross-hatched rectangle is above each eye; Several gray feathers are glued to top of mask.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 25.2, Width = 14.4, Depth = 11.0