Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 0520-0123   CAS 0520-0123; Katsina
Category Carvings
Object Name Katsina
Culture Zuni Pueblo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. New Mexico
County McKinley
Other Geographic Data Zuni Pueblo
Maker's Name Unknown (same maker as CAS 0520-0120 and CAS 0520-0122)
Date of Manufacture ca. 1920s
Collection Name Owings Collection (Hopi Katsinam)
Materials Cottonwood (Populus sp.) roots; Paint; Commercial leather; Tanned hide; Feathers
Description 3-dimensional figure in standing position with articulated arms, representing Atoshle, who visits Zuni in January with wife, Suyuki, to catch bad children whom they eat; Torso is white; Right shoulder and upper arm are blue; Left shoulder, upper arm, and both forelegs are yellow; Both forearms are white with black polka dots; Figure wears brown leather kilt, carved and painted (mostly blue) moccasins, and leather cape with black hair still on outside; Case mask is green with brown and black dots, large bulging eyes, wide snout with bared teeth, large red tab ears; large black and white spear point-shaped cutout, several feathers, and additional leather with lack hair attached decorate top of mask; Figure carries crook in left hand and red (blood-stained) sword in right hand.
Dimensions (cm) Height = ca. 87.0, Width = 25.2, Depth = ca. 20.0