Also called "cradle dolls' because they are given to Hopi infants, Putsqatihut or flat dolls are the very oldest form of katsinas dolls among the Hopi. After a child has gone through his or her naming ceremony 20 days after birth, the first one received is the Hahay'i wuuhti or katsina grandmother. The next is the katsinmana or katsina maiden. After that they may receive any katsina doll. The katsinas themselves carve them for the young girls who continue to receive them (usually more fully formed and detailed ones as they grow older) until they are initiated into the Hopi Katsina Society.
A Cactus katsina by William Gashweseoma. 8.75 inches high. $60 The Talavai’i (Early Morning) is also by William. 8.25 inches high and $60. Max Curley’s Stone Eater (Owangaroro) is SOLD (ALL IN SANTA FE)
Left to right: Taawa or Sun Katsina by Ferris “Spike” Satala, ~7.5 inches including feathers. $40. Spike also made the Pöökhonghoya or Warrior Twin, 9 inches to feather tip and SOLD. The Yot.se’e is by Cory Ahonewa, it is just under 9 inches high to feather tips and $$68. (ALL IN SANTA FE) Click for larger images.
A Sio Hu’katsina by William Gashweseoma. 14 inches high and $110. (SANTA FE)
A Maahkvaho or Hunter katsina by William Gashweseoma. 12 inches tall and $110. (SANTA FE)
A Mastok katsina by Clark Tenahongva, who was among the first to revive the old style katsina dolls. He is currently the Hopi tribe’s vice-chair, has several CDs of his music out and is featured in Walsh’s new book, The Great Tradition of Hopi Katsina Carvers. 16 in hes tall. $200.
Named for a type of fly, this katsina often carries a Hopi throwing stick, used in hunting rabbits. The dots on the mask represent the constellations we know as the Big Dipper and the Pleiades. The katsina appears in pairs at the beginning of the katsina year as a part of a ritual designed to insure fertility – specifically the continuation or renewal of the life cycle.
The Salako Mana is by Ryan Gashweseoma and in 156 by 12 inches-feather to feather. $125. The Patzro by Garryn Masawytewa measures ~9.5 inches high and is SOLD. Garryn’s Talavay or Early Morning Katsina is $40 and measures 10 inches high to feather tips. (SANTA FE)
Adam Miguel, son of Augustine Mowa III, made the Corn katsina (7.5 inchesw ane $30) the Kwikwilyaqa (Mocking) 5.5 inches and $25 and was as the Sootantaqa (one of the Corn katsinas)8.5 inches and $45. (ALL IN SANTA FE) Age 14 he was recently initiated in to the Katsina society, which meant he can begin to carve katsina dolls.
The first three by Jared Quamahongnewa of the Spider Clan from the village of Hotvela on Third Mesa. Paakwa (Frog) 10 inches high and $80. Badger is 13 inches high, $80. Hohoysi, 14 inches high and $80. The last is a Ma’lo (literally a “stick’ katsina) he appears carrying a painted staff that represents the plain staffs or planting sticks used by traditional Hopi farmers. By Brian Holmes. 11.5 inches high and $45. (ALL IN TUCSON)
The Talavai’i second from right is by Horace Kayquoptewa and 8.25 inches to the tip of the feathers. $52. (TUCSON) A left-Handed Hunter katsina by Eric Kayquoptewa. 10 inches high. $50. (TUCSON) A Matya by Ryan Gashweseoma. 6 inches high. $32.(TUCSON)
A Mastop by Larsen Harris Jr. It measures 15 inches high, $185. (SANTA FE)
A Wiharu by Nick Brokeshoulder. 18 1/2 inches high and $150. (SANTA FE)
An Avatshoya or Spotted corn katsina by Clark Tenakhongva (see bio above) 16 inches tall. $200. (SANTA FE)
A katsinmana on a cradle board by Corey Ahonewa. The doll measures just under 7 inches while the cradle measures 12 inches. $125. (SANTA FE)
A Navook katsina by Jared Quamahongewa. 13 inches high. $85 (TUCSON)
An Early Morning katsina by Horace Kayquoptewa. 8.5 inches high and $48. (TUCSON)
