Kachina Doll (Kwahu [Eagle])

Artist:Henry SheltonPueblo, Hopi

Medium: Cottonwood root, acrylic pigment, feathers, hide, fur, beads, yarn, cotton

Geograhical Locations:

• Oraibi, Third Mesa, Arizona, United States

Dates:1960–1970

Dimensions: 16 1/2 x 14 x 8 in. (41.9 x 35.6 x 20.3 cm)

Collections:

• Arts of the Americas

Exhibitions:

• Life, Death, and Transformation in the Americas

Accession Number: 2010.6.10

Image: 2010.6.10_front_PS2.jpg,

Catalogue Description:
Eagle Dancer (Kwahu) Kachina Doll. Figure is carved from one piece of cottonwood root. He stands with PR arm raised and PL arm lower with both outstretched with pair of 'eagle' wings on arms and back. Chest is ½ yellow and ½ blue over pink painted body. Arms from elbow to wrist have the opposite colors from the chest. Legs are painted to match the chest. He wears a carved white kilt. He wears a blue and white beaded necklace. The helmet style mask has large, disk-like red ears with cotton stuffed near his head where they are attached and turquoise bead loop earrings. He has a feathered headdress in back on his head. His PR foot is raised. Both feet hare barefoot. His beak is open and you can see his red tongue. Wears a fur ruff around his neck. The eagle dance is a prayer for good crops, rain, and plentiful eagle feathers as their feathers are important in many ceremonies because the bird is thought to be sacred. This Kachina usually appears in a group of several forming a dance troop, squawking and imitating eagle behavior while the Koyemshi (mudhead clowns) sing to them. The sponsoring kiva must fast, abstain from sex, and no eating of salty or fatty foods before the dance.

Brooklyn Museum