Kachina Doll

North America | Arizona

Kachina Doll

Arizona

Carved by Hopi Chief
Wilson Tawaquaptewa, Oraibi (1873-1960)

Circa 1930-1940
Carved wood (cottonwood) and pigments
Height: 6 ¼ in. – 16 cm

Provenance
Ex collection Galerie Flak, Paris
Ex private collection, France

Tawaquaptewa kachina doll 16 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.
This doll is the work of a Hopi master carver, Wilson Tawaquaptewa (1873-1960).
Oraibi chief W. Tawaquaptewa (sometimes spelled Tewaquaptewa) was both a prominent a spiritual and political Hopi leader; he is also celebrated as the greatest Hopi kachina doll carver.
A major exhibition of W. Tawaquaptewa's works was notably presented a few years ago at the Birmingham Museum of Art (Alabama, USA).
The color palette on this doll is typical of this artist's carvings.

Video

Explore the entire collection
North America
North America | Arizona
North America | Arizona
North America | Arizona
North America | Arizona
North America | Arizona
North America | Alaska
North America | USA
North America | Arizona
North America | Alaska
North America | Alaska
North America | Arizona
North America | Alaska
North America | Arizona
North America | Alaska
North America | Gulf of Alaska
North America | Alaska
Kachina
North America
North America | New Mexico
North America | Arizona
North America | USA
North America | Alaska
North America | Alaska
North America | New Mexico
North America | Arizona
North America | Arizona
North America | Arizona
North America | New Mexico
North America | Arizona
North America | Arizona
North America | Alaska
North America | Alaska
North America | Arizona
North America | Alaska
North America | Alaska
North America | Arizona
North America | Arizona
North America | Alaska
Discover our collections
CoLLECTIoNS
Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter