Hopi Katsinas
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Clark Tenakhongva

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The carvings on this page are by Clark Tenakhongva, a member of the Rabbit clan from Hotevilla Village on Third Mesa. He 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.

The venerable Clark Tenakhongva created this Palhikwmana/Butterfly Maiden, almost his signature piece.   At 26 inches high and 16 inches across, it is an impressive piece.   This is held in the early Fall for the benefit of the harvest.   As a reminder of family ties and their importance, her dancing partner is always a relative.   The head-dress is made by the male partner/relative as a gesture of thanks, since the women are allowed to ask the men to dance.   Her long hair represents the fall of gentle rain. Symbols of clouds, rain, lightning, the sun and rainbows, even corn are used in the tablita or headdress.   $1500.   (We will pay for packing, shipping and insurance in the continental U.S.)

This Hemis or Niman katsina really evokes the feeling of this particular personage, with its tablita representing the summer rainclouds (of which we have thankfully see alot of this summer...you should see the beautiful fields of corn scattered across Hopi!   20 inches high.   $600.

An unusual variant of the traditional Koyemsi or Mudhead clown.   This one measure 12.5 inches high and is   $450.

The rather large (18 inches high) YÖNGÖTSINA or Cactus katsina by Clark is $600.   The fruit of certain cacti were eaten, prepared for stews while others provided a dye or were food for the deer the Hopi hunted.

This Honankatsina or Badger katsina measures 15 inches high and is $320.   The badger and Badger Clan, like the Bear Clan, is associated with healing.   The Badger Clan is also responsible for the Snake ceremony in those villages where it is still held.

An equally large Hehey’a.   He is most often seen during the Powamuywimi or Bean Ceremony in February.   His role then is to accompany the So’yoko katsinas who go door to door making sure the children have behaved well during the preceding year.   He has chilies tied in his hair and carries a lariat just in case someone decides to skip their annual day of reckoning and make a break for it.   18 inches high.   $550. (SOLD)

The Avats’hoya katsina is known in English as the Spotted Corn katsina, representing all the different color of corn that the Hopi grow (blue, yellow, white and red).   15 inches high.   $320. (SOLD)

This Squash or Patung katsina, which, not surprisingly, represents the spirit of the squash plant, is 11 inches tall and   $300.   The head is made from a dried gourd. (SOLD)