Adobe Gallery Blog

Koyemsi or Mudhead Katsinas are probably the most well-known of all the Hopi Katsinas. They appear in almost every Hopi ceremony as clowns, interlocutors, announcers of dances, drummers, and many other roles. They nearly always accompany other katsinas; probably the only time when they do not appear with other personages is during the Night Dances. They serve religious and secular functions. They function as chiefs during the season called Kwiyamuya, and as clowns at other times.

Koyemsi are usually the ones that play games with the audience to the accompaniment of rollicking tunes. These games are generally guessing games, or simple attempts to balance objects or performances of some common act. The rewards are prizes of food or clothing. It is obvious in this carving of the Mudhead, they are clowning around.

It has been stated that Koyemsi, with the knots on their heads, represent a deformity due to incest and the purpose is to portray to Hopi the results of such an action.

Masks used by Mudhead Katsinas are different in that they are made from fabric rather than formed from saddle leather as other katsina head coverings. The fabric from which one is formed traditionally is white cotton and it is covered in a mineral pigment to make it appear to be mud.

This katsina doll pair was sent to us by a consignor in 1980 to sell, which we did to a client of ours in Texas, who passed away last year, and now we have it to sell again. We know it dates to pre-1980. It is signed on the underside Mud Heads Hopi Roy Fredericks Winslow Ariz.

Condition: original condition
Provenance: from the estate of Michael Frost

Subject: Hopi Piggyback Koyemsi (Mudhead) Katsina Dolls
Artist / Carver: Roy Fredericks
Category: Traditional
Origin: Hopi Pueblo
Medium: cottonwood root, paint, fabric, feather
Size: 14" tall
Item # C3360W