US Native American Dolls and Kachinas (1935-Now)
Kachina Dolls are beautiful Native American collectibles. Traditional Kachinas are exciting, stylistic representations of spirits while others portray members of the tribe. These artistic handmade carvings of ceremonial dancers come in many unique styles.
Who are the Hopi people?The Hopi people, also called "The Peaceful People," are a Native American tribe. Because of their isolation in what is now northeastern Arizona, they have managed to maintain much of their Pueblo culture and traditions. Highly skilled farmers, sheepherders, and craftsmen, the Hopi are known worldwide for the Hopi Kachina Doll. Americans and others enjoy watching the ceremonial dances.
What is a Kachina doll maker?Traditionally, a carved Kachina Doll is crafted by a man prior to a Kachina ceremony. Today, many native artists creating Kachina Dolls are women. Many Hopi and other Native Americans make a living creating these visually stunning artworks. There is a Hopi Kachina Doll for every taste, offering a glimpse into a very unique culture. Kachina Doll categories include:
- Hopi Kachina Doll
- Navajo Doll
- Seminole Doll
- Beaded Doll
- Route 66 Kachina Doll
Agriculture is central to the Hopi economy and culture. The land is sacred to the Hopi as it is with many other Native American cultures. A Katsina, or Kachina (the anglicized version - the Hopi language doesn't have the "ch" sound), is a spirit who visits each Hopi village to sing and dance, bringing rain for the harvest and gifts for the children. Each Kachina Doll has different characteristics and represents the spirit of a deity, an animal, or natural elements such as rain or fertility. Each dancer represents a different Katsina or Kachina.
Following the ceremonial dancing and singing, Kachinas were gifted to young girls. A Kachina Doll was used to educate children about the spirit's characteristics. When not in use, a Kachina doll was hung on the pueblo wall as a decoration. Above all else, a Hopi Kachina Doll is a constant reminder to the people of the Kachinas.
How is a Kachina doll made?Kachina dolls have evolved over time as more Americans began collecting them.
- Early Traditional era (1850–1910): A Native American craftsman would carve each Kachina from a single piece of cottonwood root. These primitive carvings only roughly approximated humans.
- Late Traditional era (1910–1930): Native Pueblo craftsmen began creating more realistic and detailed carved figures.
- Early Action era (1930–1945): Carved figures began to show arms separated from the body and a turned head. Some figures were dressed in real clothing while others continued to have traditional painted clothing.
- Late Action era (1945—present): These American dolls can be quite realistic, with intricate clothing and details. Hopi, Navajo, and other Native American artists began placing dolls on stands as buyers didn't want to hang them on walls. Groupings of dolls, such as a man and woman or a woman with babies, became more common. When carvers were banned from using real feathers from eagles and other birds, native sculptors carved wooden feathers. Today, some Kachina Dolls retain a traditional primitive appearance while others are finely detailed.