Sowi-ing Katsina, Deer Kachina Doll by Ernest Honanie

This Deer Katsina Doll (Sowi-ing) by Ernest Honanie, signed and dated 1987, captures the graceful, purposeful motion of the Deer Katsina mid-dance. Standing at 13 inches tall, the carving emphasizes the characteristic posture of the katsina — bent forward at the waist as if moving in rhythm through the plaza. Remarkably, the figure stands securely without external support, with the right staff, representing the front leg of the deer, fully detached from the base and suspended mid-air. This delicate balance showcases Honanie's skill in creating dynamic form and tension within the piece.

The Deer Katsina is a significant presence in Hopi ceremonial life, often accompanied by Wolf or Mountain Lion Katsinas during plaza dances. His role is one of deep meaning: as a prayer for the increase of deer, he invokes both abundance and rain. For the Pueblo people, hunting is not sport but sustenance, and Katsinas like the Deer embody spiritual respect for the natural world. The tradition of the Deer Katsina is thought to trace back to the ancient Hopi village of Awatowi, giving this carving not only visual power but deep cultural resonance.

Award-winning Hopi Pueblo artist Ernest W. Honanie, born in 1958 at Keams Canyon, Arizona, is celebrated for his contemporary, hand-painted Katsina wood sculptures, meticulously carved from cottonwood root. Hailing from a distinguished family of Hopi artisans renowned for carving, basketry, and jewelry, Honanie has forged his own remarkable path. His numerous accolades, far too extensive to list here, underscore his significant contributions to the world of Hopi art.

What is a Katsina? 

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Sowi-ing Katsina, Deer Kachina Doll by Ernest Honanieis from the estate of an Adobe Gallery client.

Reference and Recommended Reading: Hopi Katsina: 1,600 Artist Biographies by Gregory and Angie Yan Schaaf.

TAGS: Hopi Pueblo, Katsina Dolls