Artist:Henry SheltonPueblo, Hopi
Medium: Cottonwood root, acrylic pigment, silver discs, yarn, silk ribbon, fur, beads
Geograhical Locations:
Dates:1960–1970
Dimensions: 20 1/2 × 7 × 8 in. (52.1 × 17.8 × 20.3 cm)
Collections:
Accession Number: 2010.6.8
Image: CUR.2010.6.8.jpg,
Catalogue Description: Sun (Taawa) kachina doll. This kachina, which is carved from one piece of cottonwood root, has a large circular headdress of carved white feathers with black tips surrounding a circular face. The face has the bottom half blue with black slits for eyes, triangle for mouth and two parallel lines on either side of mouth. The top of face is bisected with yellow, black, and red stripes making a forehead design. The back of the headdress has real feathers. Across his back is a silk ribbon bandolier. The carved wood sash in back has carved fox pelt. The figure has a flesh-colored chest with Pl breast yellow and PR breast turquoise. He wears a carved dance kilt and boots. His knees wear leather leg bands decorated with bells and yarn. His raised PR arm and hand holds a gourd rattle, and his lowered PL arm and hand carries a flute. This Katsina is very rarely seen in public because its performance is part of sacred ceremonies reserved only for specific clans. Taawa, a spiritual being, seldom appears. Taawa (Sun) katsina dancer wears a radiating headdress made from yucca fibers and carries a gourd rattle and a flute. He may appear in mixed katsina dances, but this is unusual as he rarely appears in major public events. Taawa does not belong to any specific men’s kiva group but will appear on request in their sacred ceremonies. All the stories about him relate to his interactions with people and animals and how he contributed to earth’s creation.