Native American Hopi Carved Horse Kachina Doll (Katsina Doll)

Description

Native American Hopi Carved Horse Katsina Doll by Thomas Fredericks

The Horse (Kawai-i) Katsina is fairly new. Its name is derived from the Spanish word for horse, caballo. The Hopi preferred the burro as a beast of burden, so they did not adopt the horse until quite late. The Horse Katsina is usually seen in Mixed Dances. He is said to represent the spirit of the horse and is identified by the black figure of a horse painted on each cheek of his white mask. His songs are for rain and green pastures for animals.