Hopi Hakto Katsina Doll circa 1940s [SOLD]

This Hopi Pueblo carving of Hakto Katsina appears to be from the 1940s. It is an all-wood carving with matte paints. Both arms are tucked to the torso in the style of earlier carvings. He wears a fox tail suspended on his back side, a traditional Hopi wide embroidered sash hanging from his right side, and blue moccasins. The stick on his head is traditional to this katsina. The marks on the sides of his head are referred to as perspiration marks.

"Hakto is a kachina that was introduced from the Zuni sometime in the last 100 years. In Zuni he is known as Yamuhakto and he always accompanies the Salako; among the Hopis he appears only with the Sio Salako and has had his name abbreviated to Hakto. The Zuni name refers to ‘carrying wood on his head.'" [Wright, 1973:130]

"The Sio Salako is a Hopi interpretation of the Shalako Ceremony of Zuni and thus receives the name Sio (Zuni). Sio Salako is portrayed like neither the Zuni nor the Hopi Salako, but is instead a separate entity. He was introduced to the Hopis by a Tewa man around 1850 and first appeared as a group of four kachinas. Since that time changes in ceremonial have reduced the number to one and added Salako Mana that formerly did not appear. He appears in late spring on very rare occasions and is thought to be especially efficacious in bringing rain." [ibid,186]

Since Hakto appears only with Sio Salako, who appears on rare occasions, he is rarely witnessed today.

What is a Kachina?

Condition: very good condition with minor repair to left foot and minimal paint abrasions

Provenance: this Hopi Hakto Katsina Doll circa 1940s is from the collection of a client from the east Coast

Reference and Recommended Reading: Kachinas: a Hopi Artist’s Documentary by Barton Wright with original paintings by Cliff Bahnimptewa

TAGS: Kachina – Katsina Doll, Hopi Pueblo