Native American Made Spruce Owl Warrior Katsina Doll

Description

Native American Made Spruce Owl Warrior Katsina Doll by Sammie Walker (Navajo-Hopi)

The Owl (Mongwu) is the leader of the warrior Katsinam and brings the whippers to the summer dances. He is called upon to discipline the clowns for their non-Hopi behavior. The Owl appears at more than one ceremony, and in different ones at different Mesas. He appears in the Mixed Katsina Dance and in some ordinary dances. At First Mesa, he takes part in the Bean Dance (Powamuya) and in the Water Serpent ceremony. He is considered a sorcerer. This piece was created in a style that is unusual today. Very few of the artists make the Native American dolls this way. The action is wonderful and the carving, painting and details are very accurate.