Hopi Pushun Koyemsi Katsina Seated with Drum

This Hopi Pushun Koyemsi doll, or drummer mudhead, is a captivating representation of this important katsina figure. Seated with a drum, this doll serves as a visual reference for young Hopi children, helping them to recognize and understand the supernatural beings that play a vital role in their culture.

As noted in the accompanying documentation, "There are ten Koyemsi, differing slightly in appearance and conduct. All wear nobbed masks of cotton cloth, stained with the same red-pink clay that is used on their bodies. The knobs of the masks are filled with cotton wool, seeds, and dust from the footprints of townspeople. Wrapped around the base of the mask is a piece of native black cloth. Under this, they conceal their packets of seeds."

This particular Koyemsi is adorned with red-brown body paint, a blue-violet scarf, and a black kilt. It sits on a wooden block, holding a drumstick and a real skin drum, emphasizing its role as a musician.

What is a Katsina? 

Condition: very good condition with one knob missing from the back of the doll's head

Provenance: this Hopi Pushun Koyemsi Katsina Seated with Drum was originally purchased from Lorenzo Hubbell on 23 September 1952. It comes from a collector in Pennsylvania.

Reference and Recommended Reading:

- Colton, Harold S. Hopi Kachina Dolls: with a Key to their Identification

- Wright, Barton. KACHINAS A Hopi Artist's Documentary

- Alph H. Secakuku, Following the Sun and Moon: Hopi Kachina Tradition

TAGS: Katsina Dolls, Hopi Pueblo, Hopi Kachina Dolls