Kachinas: Hopi and Pueblo

Skip Directly to the Kachinas & Folk Art!

In actuality, there are three "forms" of kachinas; first there are the mystical deities who reside high upon the San Francisco peaks. Second, there are the masked dancers and performers who are actually men of the tribe portraying their Gods in their ceremonies, and third there are kachina dolls or carvings. These were originally carved to be passed on to the children by a Kachina during a ceremony as a remembrance and teaching aid. Each Kachina has an important role in the daily lives of the Pueblo people. Ogres teach discipline, Chief Kachinas teach wisdom and have powers comparable to that of a religious elder. There are Kachina women, who with the exception of only one Kachina, the Pachavuin Mana, are portrayed strictly by the men of the villages. The "women" teach values such as a mother would. There are cloud spirits called Shalakos who bring rain. There are also clown Kachinas whose primary function is one of amusement during pauses in Kachina dancing or as leavening for the seriousness of a major ceremony. "Borrowed" Kachinas are deities which have traveled from one Pueblo to another at an earlier date and have since been "adopted" by that Pueblo.

As mentioned earlier, the Kachina "doll" was originally carved as a gift and learning tool for the child to learn about its many Gods. Today they are highly sought after sculptures in wood, but are still carved traditionally by hand, out of cottonwood root, and painted with earth tone colors as well as rainbow hues. The early Kachinas were quite simple in appearance, entirely of wood, with simple or little adornment. The 1950's through the 1980's brought changes in appearances with feathers, fur, shells, leather, yarn etc. being popular accents. The 90's Kachinas returned to a simpler all wood carving without the bright feathers, paints, etc. We offerseveral styles of Kachinas to choose from. We have the original older style, the Kachinas of our generation with their many adornments and also the currently carved revised older style being done by many artists today. All Kachinas shown are one of a kind hand carved Pueblo Kachinas, unless otherwise noted.  We do carry a few Navajo carvings depicting a Kachina.   Prices will vary according to age, carvers, and detail. We hope that with this explanation of what a Kachina actually is, that you will make your purchase with the knowledge and understanding that an item as important as a Kachina deserves.
(Jill Holmes, © 2007)