Native American Hopi Carved Silent Warrior Dancer Kachina Doll (Katsina Doll)

Description

Native American Hopi Carved Silent Warrior Dancer Katsina Doll by Dominic East

Silent Katsina or Shalako Warrior (Nakiachop) is one that does not appear today. He is one of the old Katsinam and is purported to be the one who performed the extremely dangerous Ladder Dance on the cliff edge. He carries a very long pole that he places in a hole that has been carved into the top of the mesa at the edge. The dancer climbs this pole and swings from the top. As the pole sways in the wind Nakiachop dances on it. This Katsina was always a young man, and the dance was so dangerous, since the pole and the dancer were right at the edge of the mesa, that it has been halted. The pole on this carving is not attached to the piece so it can be relocated by the owner.