North America | Arizona
Kachina Doll
Arizona
Qoi’a Katsina – Ancient Navajo Kachina doll
Hopi
Circa 1900
Carved wood (cottonwood), pigments, fiber
Height: 8 in. – 20.5 cm
Provenance
Ex private collection, UK
Qoia Kachina doll 20.5 cm / Galerie Flak
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 pedagogical tool allowing them to familiarize themselves with the spiritual world and perpetuating knowledge of the founding myths on which their society was based.
Qoi’a (or Kau’a) kachina doll is the archaic version of the kachina representing the neighbors of the Hopis, the Navajos. The idea behind the kachinas’ dance where Navajos appear is that the power of these neighbor-warriors would be reflected back on the whole village, thus reinforcing the Hopi character. The Kau’a kachina dancer sang in the Navajo language.
Qoi’a (or Kau’a) kachina doll is the archaic version of the kachina representing the neighbors of the Hopis, the Navajos. The idea behind the kachinas’ dance where Navajos appear is that the power of these neighbor-warriors would be reflected back on the whole village, thus reinforcing the Hopi character. The Kau’a kachina dancer sang in the Navajo language.
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