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Kachina Doll
Arizona
Shalako Mana Katsina – Shalako Maiden kachina doll
Hopi
Circa 1900-1910
Carved wood, pigments
Height: 11 ¾ in. – 40 cm
Provenance
Ex collection George Everett Shaw, Colorado
Ex collection Barry Walsh, Massachusetts
Sold
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.
« They are the most beautiful things in the world… ». This is how French poet Paul Eluard once described Hopi kachina dolls to his wife (Letters to Gala, 1924-1948, p. 22).
Kachina dolls (or katsinam) represent spirits or gods from the pantheon of the Pueblo peoples in the American Southwest. Given to children, they 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 kachina spirit is known among the Hopi as Salako (or Shalako), the Maiden Giant Bird (mana means « maiden » or « female » in Hopi language).
Shalako is a prayer to bring rain over the parched fields. This kachina appears during the solstice ceremony (Pamuya) in January and invokes the elements for abundant rains.
Salako Mana shares many characteristics with the Butterfly Maiden Kachina (Pahlik or Poli Mana). They are among the most spectacular Hopi kachinas with their large and elaborate tabletas (crown-like elements) on top of their heads.
« They are the most beautiful things in the world… ». This is how French poet Paul Eluard once described Hopi kachina dolls to his wife (Letters to Gala, 1924-1948, p. 22).
Kachina dolls (or katsinam) represent spirits or gods from the pantheon of the Pueblo peoples in the American Southwest. Given to children, they 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 kachina spirit is known among the Hopi as Salako (or Shalako), the Maiden Giant Bird (mana means « maiden » or « female » in Hopi language).
Shalako is a prayer to bring rain over the parched fields. This kachina appears during the solstice ceremony (Pamuya) in January and invokes the elements for abundant rains.
Salako Mana shares many characteristics with the Butterfly Maiden Kachina (Pahlik or Poli Mana). They are among the most spectacular Hopi kachinas with their large and elaborate tabletas (crown-like elements) on top of their heads.
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