Hopi Twentieth Century Hakto Katsina Doll [SOLD]

This carving of the Hopi Hakto Katsina appears to be from the early twentieth century except for the position of the arms. The paint has the patina of the older dolls but the arms away from the body are more like those carvings from the 1940s, so we will say it probably dates to the first half of the 1940s.

The torso is beautifully painted with a bright red pigment except for the neck and chest which display a beautiful dark green pigment. Three strands of black ad white beads fall over the green chest. The turquoise mask appears to be a mineral pigment. The kilt remains unpainted except for the traditional embroidered Hopi sash hanging on the right side. The moccasins are covered in the green mineral pigment accented with red and black.

Hakto is a Hopi Katsina imported from Zuni Pueblo during the last 100 years. At Zuni, he is known as Yamuhakto and he always accompanies the Shalako Katsinas. At Hopi, he appears only with the Sio Salako Katsinas. It is appropriate that this Katsina, imported from Zuni Pueblo, only accompanied the Sio Salako Katsinas at Hopi because the Sio Salako also was imported from Zuni Pueblo. The Zuni name refers to "carrying wood on his head." The pair of painted marks on the side of the head is referred to as perspiration marks, which are concealed by the twisted yarn draped over the mask. This marvelous little carving was constructed from a single cottonwood root with the probable addition of the pair of arms and the stick on the head.

There is something about the simple face of Hakto that makes one think of an innocent youngster. A look at the face makes one smile. The doll has a string around its neck to facilitate hanging on a wall. It will stand unaided as well.

What is a Kachina?

Condition: very good condition overall with the exception that both arms were broken at the elbow and glued.

Provenance: this Hopi Twentieth Century Hakto Katsina Doll is from a client of Adobe Gallery

Recommended Reading: Kachinas: a Hopi artist’s documentary by Barton Wright

TAGS: Kachina – Katsina Doll, Hopi Pueblo