Hopi Kachina Owl Doll

Signed V. Sakiestewa

12.125" H x 5.625" x 4.625" D Base

Hand Carved with Painted Red, Yellow, Teel, Brown, Black and White with Carved Wood Feathers for Headdress with Owl Eyes and Beek and Two Teel Spikes in each Hand

In Excellent Condition

The Sakiestewa surname is well-known in Hopi culture, with several individuals contributing to artistic traditions, including kachina carving, weaving, and other crafts.
Hopi Kachina dolls, or tihu in Hopi, are carved representations of Katsinam (spirits) used to teach children about Hopi traditions and spiritual beliefs.  These dolls are typically carved from cottonwood root, a material symbolically significant because its roots seek water in the arid Hopi landscape, aligning with the cultural importance of water for survival.  The Owl Kachina, known as Mongwa (Great Horned Owl), is a prominent figure in Hopi ceremonies, symbolizing intelligence, wisdom, and agricultural protection by keeping fields free of rodents.  Mongwa is also known as a warrior kachina, often depicted as disciplining clowns during dances for their non-Hopi behavior, using yucca whips or other implements to restore order.  This kachina appears in various ceremonies, such as the Mixed Katsina Dance, Bean Dance (Powamuya) at First Mesa, and the Water Serpent ceremony, and its role varies across the Hopi mesas (First, Second, and Third).