Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 0520-0118   CAS 0520-0118; 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; Cow hide; Commercial cloth (several kinds); Wool yarn; Electrical tape; Feathers; Cotton string
Description 3-dimensional carved figurine in standing position, representing Siyangephoya (Left-handed Katsina), so called because the hunting gear is reversed (e.g., drawing an arrow would be done with the right hand, rather than the usual left hand); Figure's body is painted black except for wide alternating horizontal black and white stripes on left arm and right leg; He wears brown cowhide skirt (with hair on) and blue commercial cloth belt, painted brown moccasins with commercial leather cuffs, black yarn garters and left wristlet; Black case mask has red tab ears, red cloth tongue, muslin neck ruff with black electrical tape wrapping, painted white diamond-shaped eyes, brown fur hair, and 4 feathers on top; Figure carries bow in right hand and arrow in left hand.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 50.0, Width = 25.2, Depth = ca. 20.0