Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 0520-0063   CAS 0520-0063; 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. 1950s
Collection Name Owings Collection (Hopi Katsinam)
Materials Cottonwood (Populus sp.) roots; Paint; Plant fiber; Cotton string
Description 3-dimensional carved figure in standing position, representing Kwikwilyaka (Mocking Katsina), who has no personality of his own, but instead imitates the actions of anyone near him; He appears during the Bean Dance as a foil for the Ho-e, who finally rid themselves of him by pretending to set their hair on fire; When Kwikwilyaka imitates them, he sets his own cedar bark hair on fire; Figure 's body is painted white and he is barefoot and shirtless, wearing only black pants and a brown vest; His black case mask has projecting tubular eyes and mouth, all painted in alternating black and white bands; His head is covered with a small twined mat woven of shredded cedar (?) fibers.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 26.0, Width = 9.2, Depth = 9.5