Hopi Kachina dolls

The Hopi use Kachina dolls to embody the characteristics of the Kachinas, the powerful spirits of earth, sky and water. These dolls are important educational tools for children, making unseen ideas and concepts visible. The dolls themselves are not seen as something to be worshipped, and technically they do not even depict sacred beings. Rather, they depict the Kachina dancers, men who don Kachina masks during various Hopi ceremonies in imitation of the spirits.

The original Kachina dolls were not much more than painted blocks of wood. However, the craft has turned into a sculptural art form, and modern carvings are often quite detailed and life-like. Kachinas will be carved from a cottonwood root, a soft and easily sculpted wood. In the past, they have used feathers, but federal legislation has criminalized the use of feathers from endangered birds on articles for sale. Rather than use chicken feathers or some other substitute, most Hopi carvers wil now carve feathers out of wood which will be glued to the statues.

Zuni Indians also carve some Kachinas, especially Shalakos. Navajos also carve dolls which superficially resemble many Hopi Kachinas. However, these are not part of the Navajo religious tradition and are carved only for sale.

References

* Larson, Jack Lenor. "Folk Art from the Global Village". Santa Fe, NM: Museum of New Mexico Press, 1995.