Nataska Katsina Doll, Hopi c.1940s Black Ogre Kachina

his carving of Nataska, the fearful Ogre Katsina, is wearing the minimum of clothing. He sports only a loin cloth. His entire body is painted dark brown with white ovals on his chest, back, and hips, and white lower arms and lower legs. His oversized face has a large and intimidating mouth and oversized bulging eyes, both for the purpose of frightening the children and threatening to devour them. Its menacing eyes serve as stark reminders of the consequences of misbehavior.

The stance of this carving is that of crouching a little as if ready to pounce on a victim. The arms are slightly forward and hands clinched in anger. It is easy to see how a child would be scared of such a monster. This presentation of Nataska is excellent.

One of the favored carvings of Hopi is that of Nataska, the feared Ogre. During the process of collecting food from Hopi homes for distribution to the Katsinas in the kivas, the Nataskas make horrible noises to scare the children. From the earliest ages, Hopi children have heard stories about how the Nataskas would abduct children and eat them, so it is no wonder that they are terrified of them. The parent or parents bargain with the Nataskas to leave the children alone and the Nataskas agree, thus the parent is the hero and the children are saved. The mother gives the Ogres food in exchange for leaving the children alone.  The food is then taken to the kiva to feed the katsinas.

What is a Kachina?

Condition: very good condition, with the feathers a little askance.

Provenance: this Nataska Katsina Doll, Hopi c.1940s Black Ogre Kachina is from the collection of a client from California

Reference and Recommended Reading: Wright, Barton. Kachinas a Hopi Artist's Documentary with original paintings by Cliff Bahnimptewa, 1973. Northland Press.

TAGS: Kachina – Katsina Doll, Hopi Pueblo