Hopi Pueblo Crow Mother Katsina ca. 1960s [SOLD]

This delightful Crow Mother katsina was created by an unknown Hopi Pueblo artist. We'd estimate that it dates to the 1960s. The bold, bright acrylic paints result in an eye-catching depiction of Crow Mother. The carving itself is simple and strong. She stands comfortably on her red and white moccasins, but she could also be hung from the wall with the addition of a piece of string below her mask.

Barton Wright's Kachinas: A Hopi Artist's Documentary provides a helpful description of Crow Mother's function: "Angwusnasomtaka (the Crow Mother) is a figure of great dignity. She appears on all three mesas, usually in connection with the initiation of the children, although she also appears on other occasions. At the initiation rites she descends into the kiva bearing a large number of yucca blades bound together at the base. She takes a position at one corner of the large sand painting on the floor of the kiva, with one of her ‘sons' on either side of her. As the candidate is brought to the sand painting she hands a whip to one of the Hu Kachinas who gives the child four healthy strokes with the yucca blade. When the yucca becomes worn it is handed back to the Crow Mother who then supplies a new one. When the initiatory whipping is over, she raises her skirts and receives the same treatment accorded the children. They are then given prayer feathers and meal and leave the kiva."

What is a Katsina?

Condition: very good condition with a small paint abrasion on the feather headdress' upper corner

Provenance: this Hopi Pueblo Crow Mother Katsina ca. 1960s is from the collection of a gentleman from New Jersey

Reference: Wright, Barton. KACHINAS A Hopi Artist's Documentary

TAGS: Katsina Dolls, Hopi Pueblo, Hopi Kachina Dolls