How to Collect Kachina Dolls

Kachina dolls are colorful representations of Hopi earth and sky spirits. These dolls are made from blocks of wood and sometimes festooned with feathers and bright costumes. Some popular Kachinas include the Ogre Woman, Mocking Kachina and the Long-haired Kachina Maiden. Each Kachina embodies a spiritual, emotional or earth element important to the American Zuni or Hopi Indian tribes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Visit museums that house collections of Kachina dolls and other American Indian artifacts. Here you will learn about the tradition of Hopi Kachina dancers and how Kachina dolls were first carved and given to Hopi children as part of their spiritual upbringing.

2. Admire Kachina dolls at gift shops and American Indian specialty stores. Note the differences between Kachina dolls crafted in Arizona and mass-produced souvenir Kachina dolls to learn what and what not to collect.

3. Buy Kachina dolls from reputable stores, gift shops and genuine American Indian oriented websites to collect them. Prices vary according to quality and craftsmanship.

4. Care for your Kachina dolls by displaying them in a safe, moderately-lit area, away from pets and small children. Placing them inside a curio cabinet or plexiglass case will shield them from dust and excessive sunlight.

5. Be on the lookout for new Kachinas if you want to collect them. There were about 200 true Kachina spirits, and many artists and doll makers carve their own versions of these spirit dolls. Read books on Kachinas and visit Arizona, the state most famous for its Kachina doll culture and collections.

Resources

• Check out the PBS Antiques Roadshow on Kachina Dolls.
• Click on Kachinas at the Native American Links website.