Zuni Pueblo Hemokatsiki, or Ahe’a Katsina Doll [SOLD]

The Zuni Hemokatsiki, or Ahe’a Katsina Doll is the grandmother of all of the katsinas and she has a special relationship with her grandson Kolowisi. She is the only katsina that grows old. She is a dowdy old woman who is unkempt although she always seems to find clothes for katsinas when they come but never for herself.

Because she is old and unkempt, the other katsinas do not want to associate with her. When they go to Zuni, they discourage her from going because they do not want the people to see her. They try to sneak away from her and leave her behind when they go to Zuni, but she invariably finds a way to go so that she can be near her favorite grandson, Kolowisi.

At Zuni, she dances with the other katsinas and is accepted by the Zuni, however, when she returns home, the other katsinas do not treat her any better. She is a reminder to the Zuni of old age. When she dances, she is usually out of step with the others and they get angry at her and strike her but she never gets angry at them. When she sings she often gets the songs mixed up. Regardless of how she is treated, she never gets angry or upset.

The doll is in very good condition. She is dressed mostly in corduroy fabric, has animal hair on her head, yarn in her hands and tiny turquoise nuggets as a necklace. She probably dates to the 1950s or earlier.

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Oregon.  We sold this doll to them in 2009 and now have it back for sale from them.

Reference and Recommended Reading: Kachinas of the Zuni by Barton Wright with original paintings by Duane Dishta.  Note that this book is out-of-print and not currently available from Adobe Gallery.