North America | Arizona
Katsina Doll
Arizona
Wakas Katsina – Cow Katsina doll
Hopi
Arizona, USA
Carved wood (cottonwood), pigments
Circa 1900
Height: 28 cm – 11 in.
Provenance
Collection Roland de la Moussaye, Paris
Galerie Flak, Paris prior to 2002
Collection Kenzo Takada, Paris
Aguttes, Paris, 20 Nov. 2009, lot 304
Collection Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Bin Ali al-Thani, (1966-2014), Qatar, acquired at the above sale
Wakas Katsina doll 28 cm / Galerie Flak
Price: on request
Katsina dolls (or katsinam) represent spirits or gods from the pantheon of the Pueblo Indians 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.
This Katsina, called Wakas, represents a cow spirit. Like many Animal Katsinam, it appears during dances in the plaza to ensure the health and growth of the herds. It is also seen during night dances in the kiva (ceremonial chamber). As a messenger of the Rain Gods, the Wakas spirit bears witness to the importance of the animal kingdom in sustaining life.
This Katsina, called Wakas, represents a cow spirit. Like many Animal Katsinam, it appears during dances in the plaza to ensure the health and growth of the herds. It is also seen during night dances in the kiva (ceremonial chamber). As a messenger of the Rain Gods, the Wakas spirit bears witness to the importance of the animal kingdom in sustaining life.
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