A:shiwi (Zuni Pueblo). <em>Kachina Doll (Nathlashe [Clown])</em>, late 19th century. Wood, pigment, wool, cotton, 16 1/4 x 6 1/4 in. ( 41.3 x 15.9cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund, 03.325.4601. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 03.325.4601_acetate_bw.jpg)

A:shiwi (Zuni Pueblo). Kachina Doll (Nathlashe [Clown]), late 19th century. Wood, pigment, wool, cotton, 16 1/4 x 6 1/4 in. ( 41.3 x 15.9cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund, 03.325.4601. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 03.325.4601_acetate_bw.jpg)

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Kachina Doll (Nathlashe [Clown])

Arts of the Americas

CULTURE A:shiwi (Zuni Pueblo)

MEDIUM Wood, pigment, wool, cotton

Place Collected: Zuni, New Mexico, United States

DATES late 19th century

DIMENSIONS 16 1/4 x 6 1/4 in. ( 41.3 x 15.9cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 03.325.4601

CREDIT LINE Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION This is a mudhead clown kachina with no wool neck collar and but does have a wool skirt. It is the far right kachina in the photograph.HAs deeply carved mouth and ears. Koyemshi Kachina (Mudhead) Clowns Koyemshi Kachinas, or Mudheads were created when the Zuni first entered the world. One brother and sister had improper relations so their ten children became Mudheads. Each Mudhead exhibits behavior opposite to what their name is. Thus “The Aged One” acts like a child, “The Invisible One,” thinks he is hiding if he only holds up a feather in front of his face, while the all-important “Speaker of the Sun” is really a witless daydreamer and rarely speaks. A troop of ten different Mudhead Kachinas appear in most Zuni ceremonies performing outrageous behaviors and interacting with the audience, making them laugh but also making people realize how wrong such behavior really is as the clowns are eventually chased away.

EXHIBITIONS

Objects of Myth and Memory

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION A:shiwi (Zuni Pueblo). Kachina Doll (Nathlashe [Clown]), late 19th century. Wood, pigment, wool, cotton, 16 1/4 x 6 1/4 in. ( 41.3 x 15.9cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund, 03.325.4601. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 03.325.4601_acetate_bw.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 03.325.4601_acetate_bw.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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Kachina Doll (Nathlashe [Clown])

Arts of the Americas

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