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Mudhead Kachina, c. 1940
Zuni culture; Southwest
Cottonwood root, pigment, cotton string and …
Katsina of Mudhead
Mudhead Kachina, c. 1940
Zuni culture; Southwest
Cottonwood root, pigment, cotton string and …
Mudhead Kachina, c. 1940 Zuni culture; Southwest Cottonwood root, pigment, cotton string and metal nail; 6 1/4 in. 88.7.2 Gift of John J. Hawkins

Katsina of Mudhead

ClassificationsSculpture
Culture Zuni
Datec. 1940
Made AtUnited States, North America
MediumCottonwood root, pigment, cotton string and metal nail
DimensionsOverall: 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm)
Credit LineGift of John J. Hawkins
Object number88.7.2
DescriptionArticulated Mudhead Katsina with moveable arms and legs. The Hopi believe that Mudheads are a race of supernatural beings that were created from the earth by their God before the Hopi. The Mudheads are frequently associated with many katsina ceremonies. They sometimes act independently of the prescribed ritual activities and their antics are often meant to provide an element of humor as a balance to the seriousness of the occasion. The Mudheads are often represented with a sack mask over their head with bulbous eyes, mouth and ears. Their bodies are covered with brown paint to represent the clay that they were created from.
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