Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-0855   CAS 0370-0855; 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 Alice Homeahumaka
Date of Manufacture ca. 1920s (1939?)
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Cottonwood (Populus sp.) roots; Paint; Cow horn; Feathers; Dyed horsehair; Tanned leather
Description Carved figure of Wakas (Cow) Katsina, shown in standing position and wearing full head mask painted turquoise blue with black areas around bulging eyes; Protruding snout is black and white with red accents; Large ears are black with red interiors; Elongated horns (actual cow horns painted white with black tips) and bundle of gray feathers and bundle of long dyed red horsehair all crown the mask; Additional feather bundle tied to back of mask; Figure's upper body is painted red with one shoulder and forearm yellow and the other shoulder and forearm turquoise blue; Figure is dressed in embroidered kilt and actual miniature leather moccasins with cowhide soles.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 38.5, Width = 34.8, Depth = ca. 16.0