North America | Arizona
Katsina Doll
Arizona
Ma’alo Katsina – The Stick Katsina doll
Hopi
Circa 1900-20s
Carved wood (cottonwood root), pigments
Height: 9 ½ in. – 24 cm
Provenance
Ex collection Nichols, Kansas, USA
Sold
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 teaching tool allowing them to familiarize themselves with the spiritual world and perpetuating knowledge of the founding myths on which their society was based.
Ma’alo Katsina Dancer appeared during Niman (the Home-Going Ceremony) on the First Mesa and during Night Dances or plaza ceremonies in the other Hopi villages. His arrival was a prayer for rain and for bountiful harvests, hence the shape of his right ear resembling a squash blossom. It seems that Ma'alo dances have become increasingly rare over the past century, with this spirit gradually being replaced by other figures from the pantheon playing a similar role. When he danced, Ma’alo was often accompanied by Takur Mana as his sister Katsina.
Ma’alo Katsina Dancer appeared during Niman (the Home-Going Ceremony) on the First Mesa and during Night Dances or plaza ceremonies in the other Hopi villages. His arrival was a prayer for rain and for bountiful harvests, hence the shape of his right ear resembling a squash blossom. It seems that Ma'alo dances have become increasingly rare over the past century, with this spirit gradually being replaced by other figures from the pantheon playing a similar role. When he danced, Ma’alo was often accompanied by Takur Mana as his sister Katsina.
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