North America | Arizona
Katsina Doll
Arizona
Ma’alo Katsina (variant) – The Stick Katsina doll
Hopi, USA
Circa 1910-20s
Carved wood (cottonwood root), pigments and feathers
Height: 9 ½ in. – 23.5 cm
13 ½ in. (34 cm) including the feathers
Provenance
Ex collection John C. Hill, USA
Ex private collection, USA
Maalo Katsina doll variant 23.5 cm / Galerie Flak
Price: 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 teaching 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 probably of variant of Ma’alo (the Stick Katsina). The Ma’alo 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. 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.
For more information about Katsinam, one may refer to the new publication: “L’Appel des Kachinas - Katsina Calling”, edited by Julien Flak, with essays by Danielle Moretti-Langholtz, Marie Mauzé, Julien Flak & Barry Walsh
210 pages, texts in French and English
© Editions L’Enfance de l’Art, September 2024
This doll is probably of variant of Ma’alo (the Stick Katsina). The Ma’alo 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. 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.
For more information about Katsinam, one may refer to the new publication: “L’Appel des Kachinas - Katsina Calling”, edited by Julien Flak, with essays by Danielle Moretti-Langholtz, Marie Mauzé, Julien Flak & Barry Walsh
210 pages, texts in French and English
© Editions L’Enfance de l’Art, September 2024
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