North America | Arizona
Katsina doll
Arizona
Ancient Maiden Katsina doll
Katsin’Mana
Hopi
Circa 1900s or earlier
Carved wood (cottonwood), pigments
Height: 20 cm – 8 in.
Provenance
Private collection, USA
Mana Katsina doll 20 cm / Galerie Flak
On request
Katsina dolls (or Katsinam) represent spirits or gods from the pantheon of the Pueblo peoples in the American Southwest. Given to children, Katsina 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.
The Katsina doll shown here represents the Hopi Maiden (Kachin’Mana). She wears a black tunic covered by a large manta, a white shawl edged with black and red bands. This garment is characteristic of female Katsinam.
Female Katsinam always accompany and assist a male Katsina dancer during ceremonies. They take on the name of their associated figure, to which is added the Hopi term Mana, meaning “young girl.”
The role of the Mana is notably to bring baskets filled with ears of corn or beans and to offer them to the dancers and to the audience during ceremonies. They generally stand in front of their associated Katsina while he dances, before performing their own choreography.
The Katsina doll shown here represents the Hopi Maiden (Kachin’Mana). She wears a black tunic covered by a large manta, a white shawl edged with black and red bands. This garment is characteristic of female Katsinam.
Female Katsinam always accompany and assist a male Katsina dancer during ceremonies. They take on the name of their associated figure, to which is added the Hopi term Mana, meaning “young girl.”
The role of the Mana is notably to bring baskets filled with ears of corn or beans and to offer them to the dancers and to the audience during ceremonies. They generally stand in front of their associated Katsina while he dances, before performing their own choreography.
Explore the entire collection
