What Are Kachina Dolls?

Kachinas, or kachina dolls, are a craft of the Native American Hopi tribe. While they are called dolls, these crafts are actually exquisite works of art stylized after Hopi deities and mythological symbols.

Materials

Kachina dolls are traditionally made of carved wood, and are adorned with furs, turquoise, leather and feathers.

Origin

Kachina dolls are a representation of the more than 200 Hopi deities known as kachinas, that the Hopi believed lived in the mountains and controlled the seasons and growth of crops.

Use

Kachina dolls are given to Hopu children to teach them the religious traditions of their people, and to teach the children to respect and honor these deities.

Representation

Kachina dolls represent the spectrum of kachina spirits that can take the concrete forms of animals and other beings, to more abstract imagery, such as clouds.

As Art

Authentic kachina dolls are a popular collectible and have become a revered art form outside the Hopi tradition. There are kachina doll displays in museums and galleries, and many non-Hopi artists have taken to creating kachina dolls.

References

• www.nativeamericanlinks.com
• www.hopikachina.com
• www.hopimarket.com