Hopi Pueblo Ma’alo Katsina Doll circa 1925 [SOLD]

This Hopi Pueblo Ma’alo Katsina Doll is accompanied by typewritten documentation which states “This doll stands 9-½” high and was made in 1925.  Is in excellent condition.  Has a helmet mask painted one half blue and the other half red brown with a diagonal line, tube mouth, ears are feathers and a squash blossom, and red yarn.  Red and yellow body paint with white kilt and Hopi sash.  Red moccasins with yellow legs.  Appears in the regular Kachina Dance.  ‘Powamu Ceremony’ coming in of the kachinas.  Means put in order, or Bean Dance.”

Additionally, documentation states that it was purchased from Nora Hohn of Winslow, Arizona, on December 20, 1954 for $5.  This documentation appears to be from the owner’s record keeping and is dated 1954.

The carving does have the attributes of one from the early 1920s—the mask is large enough to cover a human head, the arms are tucked to the torso, the kilt is long and covers the knees, and the legs are short. The doll is a one-piece, all-wood carving with the addition of feathers.

Ma'lo or Maalo Katsina was one of the most popular katsinas in dances around 1900. He was often in the Niman dances along with Hemis, Angak'china and Kuwan Heheya. For some reason, he is not often seen in dances today. This is not unusual in that katsinas appear and disappear from time to time. 

This katsina normally appeared as a Niman Katsina on First Mesa and danced at other ceremonies on Second and Third Mesas.  When he dances, he is accompanied by Takurshmana as his sister katsina.

He is one of the older traditional Hopi katsinas from the early period of katsina development. He performs a dance that portrays a prayer for rain and good crop yield.

Condition: very good condition for its age.  There are minimal paint abrasions and a single crack in the wood on the kilt.   

Provenance: this Hopi Pueblo Ma'alo Katsina Doll circa 1925 is from a gentleman from Santa Fe 

Reference:  KACHINAS A Hopi Artist's Documentary by Barton Wright with original paintings by Cliff Bahnimptewa

Reltative Links: Hopi Pueblo, Katsina Dolls