Native American Hopi Carved Chicken Kachina Doll (Katsina Doll)

Description

Native American Hopi Carved Chicken Katsina Doll by Alexander Youvella Sr.

Chicken (Kowako) is definitely post-Spanish and probably does not date much before 1850. There are folktales about the chicken and how he lost his girlfriend to the Mockingbird Katsina. He appears most often during Palolokong or the Winter Kiva Dances. Most of his appearances seem to be more comical, as though this Katsina may have first appeared as a Piptuka. (A sub-group of the Clowns that are improvised only a night or two before their appearance in the dance. Any individual may appear as a Piptuka).