Kachina Dolls

We're always on the lookout for unique artifacts that will allow us to give a space a well-traveled feel. Recently we were lucky to stumble across a vast collection of Kachina Dolls, hundreds of ceremonial figures crafted over the lifetime of a single artisan. More commonly found fully painted, the collection of unpainted figures shows the artistry of the craft. 

Kachina Dolls represent katsinas, the spirits of deities natural elements or animals, or the deceased ancestors of the Hopi people of Arizona. Each year during the spring and early summer, the Hopis would hold katsina ceremonies and the men of the village would spend the days prior carving each figure in the likeness of the katsinam represented by each particular ceremony.

Photo by Tara Bennett

The dolls would be passed on the daughters of the village and hung on the walls of homes. Historian Edward Kennard described the figures as "essentially […] a means of education; it is a gift at dance-time; it is a decorative article for the home, but above all it is a constant reminder of the Kachinas."

While a few surviving figures date back to the 18th century, most katsina figures began in the late 19th century. As the craft developed, figures became more and more complex, including more figurative carving and moving parts.