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Mau-i. Kachina Doll (Tsepothle), late 19th-early 20th century. Wood, pigment, fur, feathers, cotton cloth, wool yarn, 17 5/16 x 5 1/2 x 5 7/8 in. (44 x 14 x 14.9 cm). Museum Expedition 1904, Museum Collection Fund, 04.297.5341. Creative Commons-BY.
In the southwestern United States, a supernatural being that represents a life-force or embodies a natural phenomenon such as the sun, the moon, a plant, or an animal is called a koko by the Zuni and a katsina (commonly anglicized as “kachina”) by the Hopi. Such beings have the power to control rainfall, crop growth, and fertility; to cure and protect; and to act as messengers between the gods and human beings. Carved kachina figures, also known as kachina dolls, are representations of these spirits and can have a sacred or an educational purpose. During some ceremonies, the carvings are given to community members to reward virtuous behavior, recognize a recent marriage, or teach children about religion. In the 1800s, a lively market for the carvings developed among non-Native collectors and tourists, giving rise to the elaborate art form that flourishes today.