Product Description

A Hopi Indian will tell you that a kachina is a supernatural being who is impersonated by a man wearing a mask. Small wooden dolls carved in the likenesses of the various kachinas are used to help teach Hopi children the tribal religion and traditions. Each child receives a doll made especially for him by his male relatives. He treasures the doll and studies it so that he can learn to recognize and respect the host of spirit kachinas that people the Hopi world.

Kachinas are difficult to classify because different Hopi pueblos have different ideas about their appearance and their functions. The late Dr. Harold S. Colton identified 266 different kinds of kachina dolls, and in this book he describes the meaning, the making, and the principal features of all of them. Each type of doll is pictured in a simplified line drawing. There is also an illustrated key to help the collector identify the various types.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #210166 in Books
• Published on: 1970-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Review
“The most comprehensive study to date on the Indian deities.” (El Paso Times )

“After even a cursory glance at the book you will yearn for a kachina of your own.” (Midwestern Banker )

“Of prime importance to collectors and all others wishing to distinguish the genuine Hopi work from the spurious dolls.” (The Book Exchange )

Customer Reviews

Just heads
For the most part the depictions of the Kachinas in this book are line drawings of heads. That leaves out about 90% of what you may be interested in seeing.

Best Kachina book
This is by far the best Kachina book on the market. It was written by Harold S. Colton who spent a lifetime studying the Hopi indian culture. I found this book to provide the most accurate details of the Kachina. If you are pursuing an in-depth study of the Kachina, this book is for you.

Excellent Source
This book is a good place to start if you are lookin into collecting katsina's