Adobe Gallery Blog

Katsinas are pueblo religious figures that represent anything relating to the natural world or the cosmos.  Male members of the Pueblo may dress up as a particular katsina during religious ceremonies out of respect for the katsina, and their powers (i.e. bringing rainfall, protection, or fertility).  Katsina dolls are given twice a year, every year, to the girls of the pueblos and though every pueblo maintains these traditions only the dolls of Hopi pueblo, and occasionally Zuni, are given away or sold, outside of the pueblo itself.

We have received, and have recently posted, 18 katsina dolls to the website; 17 from Hopi Pueblo and the last from Zuni Pueblo.  All 18 of the katsinas are from a single collection and were either purchased or given as gifts by the original owner in 1959 or 1960.  The collector made several visits to Hopi Villages to witness various katsina dances during this time period.  They were all once the property of young girls given, in tradition, during the religious ceremonies.

By going to the home page of our website and clicking on special exhibits and shows you will find a show created specifically for this collection (as long as it remains active).

Let us know what you think of the dolls and which of them might catch your eye and why?