Kachina Doll (Pakwen [Clown])
Arts of the Americas
MEDIUM
Wood, pigment, wool, feather
DATES
late 19th century
DIMENSIONS
16 1/4 x 6 x 5 1/2 in. (41.3 x 15.2 x 14 cm)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
03.325.4606
CREDIT LINE
Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
This is a wood mudhead clown kachina with a wool skirt.
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.
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
A:shiwi (Zuni Pueblo). Kachina Doll (Pakwen [Clown]), late 19th century. Wood, pigment, wool, feather, 16 1/4 x 6 x 5 1/2 in. (41.3 x 15.2 x 14 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund, 03.325.4606. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.03.325.4606_front.jpg)
IMAGE
front,
CUR.03.325.4606_front.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2011
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
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