Hopi Katsinas
Gallery 2

Gallery 3

Father and son Clark and Sam Tenakhongva carve the old style katsinas and paint them using exclusively mineral paints and tie the feathers and conrnhusk attachments with traditional knotting and tying techniques.   Clark is a member of the Rabbit clan from the village of Hotvela on Third Mesa; Sam is of the Parrot Clan.   Clark was a member of the first small group of young Hopi carvers to help revive the old style of carving, complete with mineral and vegetal paints.   Sam works for the Hopi Education Endowment Fund while Clark works for the Hopi Cultural Preservation office.

A Koyemsi or Mudhead by Sam Tenakhongva.   15 inches high, $125.

A Crow Mother katsina, also by Sam, 13 inches high and 10 inches across.   $125.

A great Momo or Bee katsina by Clark, 18 inches high. (SOLD)

The Patung or Squash katsina is one of the wawarus or runner katsinas.   Many of the fields the Hopi men planted and tended were miles distant from the mesa-top villages.   Some men from the village of Orayvi farmed fields more than 20 miles away.   Running is also a part of Hopi rain-bringing ritual, with runners stationing themselves miles south of the village and then racing back, with the idea that their running would encourage the clouds or cloud people to race back with them, bringing the rain.   If challenged by this katsina, winners of the brief sprint receive a basketry plaque, while losers are chased with a yucca whip to encourage them to run faster.   9.5 inches high.   $260.

Two Hahay’iwùuhti (Pronounced “hah hai wooh tih”) is the Grandmother of all katsinas.   This is the tihu or doll that is typically first given to a Hopi (given while still an infant).   She is the one of two katsinas considered to be a katsina Grandmother   (the other being Angwusanomtaqa/Crow Mother).   Both by Clark and each is $60 and about 9 inches high, not including the feathers.

A smaller version of Avatshoya by Sam.   It measures 8 inches high and is $165. (SOLD)

A Tsili (Chili) katsina by Jerel Quamhongnewa.   7 inches high.   $125. (SOLD)

This Qoqole katsina was carved by Larsen Harris Sr. of Musangnovi Village atop Second Mesa.   9.5 inches high, it is $220. Behind the back right knee is a very nicely detailed turtle shell rattle.