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Toys and Games
Native American ➔ Kachina Doll
Identifier:
1990.1.81Description:
Kachina dolls (also known as tithu, katsina tithu or hopi katsina figures) are carved cottonwood figures made by Hopi artisans of Arizona. The figures are made to represent spirits in the Hopi Tribal culture that act as messengers between humans and the spirit world. Historically their purpose within Hopi culture has been to educate young girls about these spirits. By the late 1900s, a growing interest in Hopi culture and tourism resulted in kachina dolls being made specifically for the tourist and fine art markets, along with published books on how to create your own kachina dolls. Trade in kachina dolls continues as a popular form of Southwest tourist art.According to previous notes about this object, it is painted and carved of wood and was likely made by a non-indigenous artist.