North America | Arizona
Kachina Doll
Arizona
Pang Katsina – Mountain sheep / Ram kachina doll
Hopi
Circa 1930s-40s
Carved wood (cottonwood), pigments, fiber
Height: 11 in. – 28 cm
Ex Bonhams Los Angeles, 4 December 2017 lot 19
Published: Interiors, 2023
Pang Kachina doll 28 cm / Galerie Flak
Price on request
Kachina dolls (or katsinam) represent spirits or gods from the pantheon of the Pueblo peoples in the American Southwest. Given to children, kachina dolls constituted a teaching tool allowing them to familiarize themselves with the spiritual world and perpetuating knowledge of the founding myths on which their society was based.
In the Hopi pantheon, this Kachina spirit know in Hopi language as Pang is said to be used to secure an increase of flocks. It belongs to the Animal family of kachina figures. It also has a strong connection with healing spirits. According to the Hopi, Pang Kachinas knew the secrets and cures associated with medicinal plants.
The Pang kachina dancer usually carried a pole that acted as the animal's fore legs, enabling him to make sensitive impersonations of the mountain sheep’s movements.
The bent legs and dynamic posture of the figure here convey a strong sense of movement.
In the Hopi pantheon, this Kachina spirit know in Hopi language as Pang is said to be used to secure an increase of flocks. It belongs to the Animal family of kachina figures. It also has a strong connection with healing spirits. According to the Hopi, Pang Kachinas knew the secrets and cures associated with medicinal plants.
The Pang kachina dancer usually carried a pole that acted as the animal's fore legs, enabling him to make sensitive impersonations of the mountain sheep’s movements.
The bent legs and dynamic posture of the figure here convey a strong sense of movement.
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