Hopi Pueblo Owl Kachina, Mongwa Katsina Doll

The Hopi Mongwa, or Owl Katsina, is a prominent figure among the warrior katsinam, embodying intelligence, wisdom, and protection. Known for his roles in ceremonies such as the Bean Dance and Water Serpent Ceremony, he disciplines clowns for non-Hopi behavior and aids agriculture by controlling rodents. As a deified ancestral spirit, the Owl Katsina reflects the Hopi tradition of honoring spiritual connections to animals, plants, and human qualities.

This Owl Katsina stands out with its unique light greyish-pink hue and meticulously painted details. The arms are positioned away from the body, a stylistic convention characteristic of the 1940s and later. Its helmet features wing-like ears, a signature element of the Mongwa Katsina.

What is a Katsina? 

Condition: very good condition with repaired left arm and right foot

Provenance: this Hopi Pueblo Owl Kachina, Mongwa Katsina Doll is from a collector in California

Recommended Reading:

- Colton, Harold S. Hopi Kachina Dolls: with a Key to their Identification

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

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

TAGS: Katsina Dolls, Hopi Pueblo, Hopi Kachina Dolls