Hopi Palhikmana Katsina Doll by Brian Honyouti [SOLD]

This carving of the Hopi Palhikmana Katsina is the work of Brian Honyouti. It appears that the doll was carved from a slim cottonwood root for the main body, and then the tablita was carved and added.

This all-wood carving of the Hopi Palhikmana Katsina presents this personage in the most traditional manner—standing firmly on both feet and as a very distinguished person in an apparent motionless stance. The tablita is an extraordinary display of symbols of lightning and a mountain. She wears a traditional pueblo manta, worn over the left shoulder and under the right arm. She wears moccasins, a turquoise nugget necklace with jacla, and carries a bundle of feathers in each hand. Her hair falls across her back representing rain. The doll is marked B H on the pedestal in Honyouti's typical style.

Alph Secakuku, Hopi author, describes the function of Palhikmana in his book Following the Sun and Moon-Hopi Kachina Tradition as follows:

"Palhikmana is a katsina maiden with several functions. She can appear during Angak'wa as a Polimana (Butterfly maiden) or as a Corn-Grinding maiden, or she can perform a special dance.

"During the Ösömuya, a season encompassing the month of March, a series of katsina night dances take place in each of the villages. From now until July the katsina rituals and beliefs will be manifested in the lives of the Hopi. The katsinam are ever-watchful spirit beings, the invisible forces of life and messengers who listen for humble prayers and meditations. The immediate goal of the night dances is to create a pleasant atmosphere for all life forms, encourage their growth, and bring all-important rain for their fruitfulness. [Secakuku, 1995:34]

Barton Wright, in his book Kachinas a Hopi Artist's Documentary, places this katsina in the Night Dances group, which, as he explains, are the dances held in the kivas in January before the arrival of the katsinas to Bean Dance in February. He states that at Third Mesa, puppet dances in the kiva feature the Salako and Palhikmana with the Water Serpent, but this is not done at First or Second Mesas. In these puppet dances, the Palhikmana is the maiden who grinds corn. [Wright, 1973:84]

"Kachinas have lives that are the same as any other Hopi, and consequently most of them have mothers, wives and sisters who accompany them when they are seen in ceremonies and dances. These female kachinas are impersonated by men with one exception, the Pachavuin Mana. In this one instance the impersonator is a woman. . . The men who take the impersonation of the kachina women in ceremonies do so by personal choice or the general accord of their kiva mates. The decision is often based on the men's small size or simply because they do an excellent job of impersonation. There is never any onus attached to the role." [Wright, 1977:44]

What is a Katsina?

Condition: original condition

Provenance: this Hopi Palhikmana Katsina Doll by Brian Honyouti is from the estate of an Adobe Gallery client

References:

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

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

Recommended Reading: BRIAN HONYOUTI Hopi Carver by Zena Pearlstone

TAGS:  Hopi Pueblo, Lauren Honyouti, Ronald Honyouti, Katsina Dolls, Brian Honyouti