Kachina Doll (Shalako)

Item number 04.297.5535 from the Brooklyn Museum.

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Description

This Kachina doll is probably Palhikmana based on the shape of the rectangular eyes, headdress and face design. It has a Tihu style body- that is a flat, rectangular form. It is wearing the cloud form headdress. This style of Kachina is usually given to young children during a dance. Palhikmana is a female dancer that appears during the Night Dances as a Polimana or Butterfly Maiden or can appear as a corn grinding maiden. Her role is to dance with a male partner accompanied by songs from the Mudhead. Women who are in the initiation dance for the Marau Society, a women's society, are also called Palhikmana.