Adobe Gallery Blog

The Mudhead has been named such because the mask and body of the participant is covered in reddish mud.  According to Barton Wright, this Hopi personage has been called Koyemsi but that term is from the Zuni Pueblo and means "husband" as in animal husbandry, one who cares for a flock. He states that neither Mudhead nor Koyemsi is the correct name for this Hopi Katsina.  He states that the proper Hopi name is Tachukti, a term which means "ball on head."  It is not likely that the name Mudhead or Koyemsi will disappear because those are names generally known for this personage.

Because of the looks of the head covering, with its numerous knots, the Mudhead is generally considered to be a clown; however, it is not the case.  He serves a multitude of purposes.  Even though he is amusing and performs hilarious antics, he is far more than a clown.  He may be a curer, a magician, a dance director, a warrior, a messenger, a sage or, even a fool.

In this carving, Silas Roy has presented the Mudhead Katsina as a drummer.  It is an earlier carving from 1976, a time when acrylic paints were still the vogue and before many carvers progressed to one-piece carvings and the use of oil based stains in lieu of paint.  The carving is quite exceptional for the period.

Condition: appear to be in original condition with the loss of some feathers on the head.

Provenance: originally purchased in 1976 from the Museum of Northern Arizona in 1976, currently from the estate of Michael Frost of Texas.

Recommended Reading: Clowns of the Hopi: Tradition Keepers and Delight Makers by Barton Wright

Subject: Hopi Pueblo Mudhead (Koyemsi) Katsina Doll
Artist / Carver: Silas Roy, Sr. (1948-present)
Category: Contemporary
Origin: Hopi Pueblo
Medium: Cottonwood root, acrylic paints
Size: 16-3/4 inches tall
Item # C3360V