Florence B. and Carl L. Selden Fund

Giant (Chaveyo) Kachina Doll. Artist probably Henry Shelton. This Kachina is one of the ogres in the white ogre family. Carved from one piece of cottonwood root and painted light beige, he stands with both feet on the ground, knees slightly bent, PR arm raised and PL arm lowered. He has a snarling, fanged mouth with red showing inside, goggle eyes, black face paint with white swirls on the cheeks, and very large red ears. He wears a fur ruff around his neck and has a rayed feathered headdress. He holds whipping sticks in raised PR hand and a large sword with a swirled, snakelike design and feather tuffs in lowered PL hand. His kilt and boots are carved on. He wears a hide cape and has hide fringe knees and on the top of his carved boots. Prior to the Angk'wa (February night dances) the Ogre family appears in the village demanding food and game in large quantities. For about a week they appear going from house to house insisting they give. If not enough food is forthcoming they hoot, snarl and terrify claiming they will eat the children. Children are terrified. Everyone looks to see what they have done wrong to deserve this. The Ogre's are the reminders that everyone’s behavior is not good enough to live up to the high Hopi standards. They are the reminders to live the spiritual life. Once ridicule and punishment are over the ogres give a blessing and a social dance is held for healing. The Ogre family is forcibly removed from the village.

These leggings very early pre-1830s Blackfoot. Bits of ermine weasel remain attached to the fringe. Beads are all larger pony sizes.

Wildcat (Tokotski) Kachina Doll. This Kachina has a body carved from one piece of cottonwood root. He is positioned with his PL leg and PL arm raised, slightly crouching. His kilt and sash with a fox tail hanging down the back are carved root. His cape is spotted fur. He wears a carved turtle rattle on the PR leg ankle. His hide bandolier is decorated with shells. He has a hide fringe on top of painted on boots. The white head mask has a snout with bared teeth, black goggle eyes set in a brown "bandit" type mask and he has black cat paws painted on his cheeks. Top of the mask has feathers. He has large red ears. Wildcat Kachina appears by itself during Angk'wa (a series of night dances). His prayers are for rain to increase their wildcat numbers so the Hopi can have more pelts.

Helele or Hilili are participants in a dance often chosen by a kiva to perform after the winter solstice ceremonies. This is possibly the Hilili Kachina known as the Corn Hilili. He wears a helmet style mask with long beard and feathered top. On his shoulders he wears a fur cape, body is painted red and he wears a painted dance skirt and sash. His chest and arms are painted red. He wears blue hide boots with red trim and has yarn tied around his calves.

Kachina doll with articulated arms. Footwear has been painted on the feet.

This Kachina is also spelled Mahedinasha.(taking away feces). He may come during the winter dance series or during the Koanne (the day when the Kachinas go home-six days after the Shalako). The dancers appear early in the morning and go through the village. When they come into the plaza they dance as a group accompanied by a drummer. They can sing nasty songs about the inhabitants of Kothluwala, (the spirit village where the dead Kachinas live) but really they are about the present day Zuni village. See Barton Wright, "Kachinas of the Zuni" for an explanation of how he became so ugly in appearance.

Museum Expedition 1905, Museum Collection Fund

Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund

Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund