Hopi Crow Mother Katsina Doll by Philbert Honanie

This traditional Hopi Katsina doll captures the beautiful "old-style" aesthetic revived by prominent Hopi carvers. The artist, Philbert Honanie, is identified by his initials and symbol painted on the doll.   Philbert Honanie (b. 1966), is a well-known Hopi artist of the Coyote Clan from the village of Hotevilla, Third Mesa, Hopi Reservation. 

Honanie is recognized as one of the early carvers to revive the traditional, classic style of Katsina doll carving. Rather than crafting ultra-realistic action figures common with many carvers today, he focuses on the minimalist form of early carvings to evoke childhood memories for tribal elders. He primarily uses a simple pocket knife to hand-carve his pieces out of cottonwood root. The results are a soft matte finish rather than the shiny finish of acrylic paints. He is known for using all-natural earth pigments collected around his village. His dolls generally have long bodies and short legs as was traditional in nineteenth century carvings of katsinas.

The turquoise-blue face features a prominent dark, upside-down triangle or hourglass shape enclosing the eyes, which is a key identifying marker for the Crow Mother Katsina. Attached to the sides of the face is a pair of black wings representing the wings of a crow. The top of the head has a grouping of soft fluffy black feathers. Across her forehead is a twisted rope of red and black yarn. 

The doll is wearing a traditional Hopi woman's black dress with blue, red, and green edgings, over which she wears an embroidered white manta. She wears traditional colorful moccasins. This piece stands out as an exceptional example of Hopi reverence for their sacred ceremonial lives.

What is a Katsina? 

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Hopi Crow Mother Katsina Doll by Philbert Honanie is from the collection of a client from Denver, Colorado

Recommended Reading: KACHINAS A Hopi Artist's Documentary by Barton Wright

TAGS: Katsina Dolls, Hopi Pueblo, Hopi Kachina Dolls