Hopi Pueblo Ogre Woman Kachina Doll By Lawrence Dallas

Late 20th Century

6 .125" H x 1.5" L x 1.375" W

Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root Holding a Knife and has a Basket on her Back and has very Fine Carved Detail

In Very Good Condition

Lawrence Dallas or Laurence Dallas, a respected Hopi carver from Moencopi/Third Mesa is known for high-quality, award-winning work exhibited at places like the Heard Museum, Scottsdale shows, and Flagstaff Hopi shows. His carvings often feature dramatic poses and fine detail.

The Hopi Kachina known as Ogre Woman is a traditional figure in Hopi spirituality and ceremonies. Kachinas represent spirits that bring rain, fertility, health, and teachings to the Hopi people, primarily visiting from January to July. The Ogre Woman is a disciplinarian or "bogey" kachina, often appearing during the Powamu (Bean Dance) ceremony in late winter/early spring. She is accompanied by ogre brothers and serves as a cautionary figure to encourage good behavior in children. She demands that children help with chores, such as gathering food, grinding meal, planting, or household tasks. If they refuse or offer subpar contributions, she whistles shrilly, threatens to carry them off in a basket on her back, or implies they'll be eaten or punished—though it's ultimately a playful/scary teaching tool to instill responsibility and respect for tribal rules. She is depicted as fearsome often with a monstrous face, protruding jaw or teeth, carrying tools like a knife, saw, crook, or bloody cleaver, and sometimes a basket. Variations include different hairstyles. Kachina dolls are carved from cottonwood root, painted with natural pigments, and adorned with feathers, hair, or cloth. They are given to children (especially girls) for education and blessings, while many are sold as art pieces.