Table of Contents
What did Kachina dolls represent?
The word “kachina” comes from the Hopi word “kachi,” which means “spirit.” Kachina dolls symbolize Ketsinam, or spirits of nature. Tribes of the Southwest believed that aspects of nature could be personified by Ketsinam. These include rain, crops, animals, ancestors, and more.
How are kachina dolls used?
The purpose of the dolls are to teach children to identify the various spiritual figures depicted by the costumes of dolls and the symbolism of their regalia. “Kachina” is a Hopi term that means a variety of things and can refer to spirits, dancers and carved dolls – refer to Kachinas for additional information.
What were Kachina dolls made of?
Kachina doll making today involves both tradition and artistry. Kachina dolls are traditionally carved from the roots of cottonwood trees which once were abundant on and near the Hopi lands.
They are copies of Hopi motifs. They are not original, as Kachina dolls are not part of the Navajo religion. These makers are simply gifted carvers. Only a full blooded Hopi Indian can translate the “essence” of the Kachina doll.
Are Kachinas real?
Overview. Kachinas are spirits or personifications of things in the real world. These spirits are believed to visit the Hopi villages during the first half of the year. The local pantheon of kachinas varies from pueblo community to community.
When were kachina dolls created?
Most of the Kachina dolls were invented in the late 19th century and can be separated chronologically by their look in four periods: the Early Traditional, Late Traditional, Early Action and Late Action periods. The Early Traditional Period lasted from 1850 to 1910.
What is Hopi pottery?
Hopi pottery today is a legacy of the old abandoned Hopi pueblo of Sikyatki. Hopi clay is fired to shades of cream to apricot or light red, depending upon iron content. The most famous Hopi potter is probably Nampeyo, who revived many of the Sikyatki designs in the 1880’s.
What tribes have Kachinas?
In the Pueblo cultures, kachina rites are practiced by the Hopi, Zuni, Hopi-Tewa, and certain Keresan tribes, as well as in most Pueblo tribes in New Mexico.
What is the difference between Hopi and Navajo?
The Hopi language comes from the Uto-Aztecan language family and is related to Shoshone, Comanche and Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. The Navajo language comes from the Athapaskan language family and is related to the languages of the Cibecue and Tonto Apaches and languages spoken in California, Alaska and Canada.
How do you identify Anasazi pottery?
Anasazi pottery is distinguished from that of other Southwestern culture areas by its predominant colors (gray, white, and red), a coil-and-scrape manufacturing technique, and a relatively independent stylistic trajectory.
How is Hopi pottery fired?
Hopi potters do not use a pottery wheel or make mold-poured pottery. They use the same techniques as their ancestors, hand-painting the designs with yucca leaf brushes and using natural materials provided by their environment. The pots are then fired in open firing areas.