Old Style Hopi Carved Cactus Traditional Plant Kachina Dolls (Katsina Dolls)

Description

Old Style Hopi Carved Prickly Pear Fruit-Cactus Traditional Plant Katsina Dolls by Paul Huma

Prickly Pear Fruit (Yung’a or yunya or Nawuk’china). As a Katsina, he appeared just prior to the turn of the 20^th century and was personated only a few times on First Mesa. He has been perpetuated more through the use of dolls than in dances. His function on Third Mesa was to ensure the cleaning of the springs, but on First Mesa he seems to have appeared primarily in the Soyohim. He appears with Prickly Pear fruit paddles as a headdress. He is accompanied by Yung’a Mana who usually carries a basket with pads of prickly pear in it. She carries a set of wooden tongs that she uses to handle the cactus pads. She is dressed very much like the Hano Katsin Mana. This is a really sweet pair by Paul.