Native American Hopi Carved Ogre Disciplinarian Katsina Doll and Clown

Description

Native American Hopi Carved Ogre Disciplinarian Katsina Doll and Clown by Arnold Holmes

The Black Ogre (Cheveyo), and the White Ogre (Wiharu), are disciplinarians who appear around the time of the Powamuya ceremony. Each carries a saw (sometimes a knife) as well as a bow and arrows for hunting. The males' outstanding feature is their long, flapping jaws, which they can clack quite loudly. The purpose of these Katsinam is to reinforce the Hopi way of life to the children of the Pueblo. These Ogres accompany the Ogre Woman (Soyoko Wuhti) on her trip to collect food for the Katsinam from the children. As a means of discipline, children are told the Ogres can swallow them whole unless they are good. The fierce and threatening behavior of these Katsinam strikes fear into the children, but they are eventually saved from imminent danger by the people of their Pueblo. Outsiders would call these Katsinam Boogeymen. This wonderful carving shows a Hopi Yellow Clown (Sikya Tsutskutu) on his knees and choking from his medicine bag being pulled by the Ogre. This is a fabulous one-piece carving by Arnold and we are grateful to have it.