Kachina Dolls

Hopi and Zuni kachinas are a traditional gift presented to young girls to teach them child rearing and the meaning of the kachinas. Young men are initiated into the Kachina cult early in life. Later they don the costume of the Kachina for ceremonies. Traditional kachinas are carved from the cottonwood root and employ white kaolin and red ocre. Most in our collection are made with tempera paints, feathers, leather, horsehair and commercial yarns. Some of the more well known historical carvers are Wilson Tawaquaptewa, Jimmie Kewanytewa, Jimmie Kootshongsie and Otto Pentewa.