Katsina Dolls Hopi Pueblo, Hopituh Shi-nu-mu Traditional

Hopi Kwahu - Eagle Katsina Doll by Bryce Quamahongnewa

Category: Traditional
Origin: Hopi Pueblo, Hopituh Shi-nu-mu
Medium: 13” height x 3-½” diameter
Size: 13” height x 3-½” diameter
Item # C4946.47
Price: $3500

The Architecture of Flight: A 1991 One-Piece Masterwork by Bryce Quamahongnewa

Every so often, a carving comes into the gallery that defies the physical limitations of its medium. This Kwahu (Eagle) Katsina Doll is one of those rarities — a breathtaking display of technical mastery, carved entirely from a single piece of cottonwood root.

To appreciate this piece, one must first understand the artist's process. Starting with a solid, 13-inch cylinder of cottonwood root, Bryce Quamahongnewa had to visualize the entire finished composition before the first sliver of wood was removed. In a true one-piece carving, there are no "add-ons." If a wing or a feather snaps during the process, the entire piece is lost. Even on one-piece carvings, minor attachments must be added because of the grain of the wood. In this instance, the pair of red ears and the green attachment on the forehead, along with the single feather on top of the head were added to the carving.

The complexity is staggering. Even the portions of the body hidden behind the sweep of a wing are fully finished and painted. The feathers on the underside of the raised right wing are as meticulously rendered as those in plain sight.

Most katsina dolls are static, but this Eagle is alive. Quamahongnewa has captured Kwahu in a moment of powerful ceremonial performance: He balances precariously on his left foot, his right foot hovering just above the ground in mid-stride. The right wing swoops upward while the left is caught in a full downstroke. The resulting "swooshing" effect creates an incredible amount of intricately detailed, overlapping feathers. The eagle's face bears a "determined look of conquest," as if he has just spotted his mark. There is a palpable sense of predatory power and spiritual focus.

The right side of the carving serves as a masterclass in Hopi traditional dress: Around the waist is a red woven sash, knotted precisely over a wide, fully embroidered Hopi sash. On his back sits a rectangular sun shield, crowned with a carved grouping of feathers. Three distinct feathers rise from the back of the head, with another three resting atop the crown, emphasizing the Eagle's connection to the sky.

About the Artist: Bryce Quamahongnewa

Hailing from the Third Mesa village of Hotevilla, Bryce is celebrated for his ability to infuse fluidity and "bone-deep" character into the classic carving styles that emerged in the late 1980s. This piece is dated 1991, a "golden era" for Bryce where his skill in one-piece construction reached its peak.