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Maker(s):Lamson, Elman
Culture:Native American: Hopi (1938-d. unknown)
Title:Kachina
Date Made:n.d.-1970s
Type:Ceremonial
Materials:cottonwood root, leather, plastic, feathers, yarn, paint
Place Made:United States; Arizona; Second Mesa, Hopi Reservation
Measurements:16 5/8 in.; 42.2275 cm
Accession Number:  SC 1981.25.21
Credit Line:Gift of Katherine Gabel, class of 1959
Museum Collection:  Smith College Museum of Art
1981_25_21.jpg

Description:
This unnamed kachina is unique in that he has a black, rounded head with blue painted geometric eyes, red ears, a blue carved mouth, and a carved green neckpiece (meant to symbolize Juniper or Douglas Fir). He wears a pointed hat that has red and white feathers dangling from it. His brightly painted body consist of blue, red, gray, and orange patterns, as well as a painted necklace. One wrist is adorned with a black yarn bracelet, and the other with a decorated cuff. He holds a small white object (perhaps now broken), and a bough of Juniper or Douglas Fir. Around his waist is a turquoise belt that holds a small white patterned apron. Black yarn ties are seen around his legs, with red boots. He does not stand upon a wooden platform, meaning that he might not have been carved for the tourist trade. Instead, he could have been used for religious instruction within tribal communities. AP2018

Tags:
men; religion; ceremonies; kachina dolls

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=SC+1981.25.21

Research on objects in the collections, including provenance, is ongoing and may be incomplete. If you have additional information or would like to learn more about a particular object, please email fc-museums-web@fivecolleges.edu.

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