PHOENIXCOSMOPOLITAN™

Inv. # J24680016  Yowi the Scavenger

Yowi or Priest Slayer as he is more popularly known by non-Hopi people is an Ogre Katsina. Mostly regarded as a deity of certain Hopi Warrior Clans, Yowi has a supreme powerful spiritual responsibility to punish those who disrespect Katsinam or Hopi beliefs, including the taking of life.  When I asked a member of the Hopi tribe if he would carve a true form of Yowi for me, he responded by saying he would speak with a Medicine Man. I did receive this fabulous carving with the message that permission had been given to carve Yowi but no items should be in his basket. During the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, Jesuit Priests burned all Hopi carved Katsinam in what they termed as "sacrilegious false idols" as they attempted to convert the Hopi to Catholicism.  It is said, after the burning, Yowi meticulously sorted through all remaining ash searching for and picking up each little remaining piece of Katsinam burned, then placed each into his basket bringing them back to the people. After that, he carried out the beheading of the priest which effectively drove the Catholic Church off of the Mesa.  The church was burned to the ground and the people vowed the Jesuits would never return.  This Yowi Katsinam does not have anything in his basket!  He is standing on top of clowns of the Hopi Mesa's and was carved by A. Yovella, signed D. Tsosie, under his Navajo heritage name. We purchased this from Darrell A. Yovella during the early 1990's in Chinle, Arizona.  This large and fabulous carving is superb in style and art and is a must for any serious collector of Hopi Art.
Size:  16" Tall x 4.5" Wide.

Inv. # J24680017  Red Beard Katsina, a Variant of the Angak'tsina

Suddenly you hear it. The turtle shells in the narrow passage between two old houses, the exit way from the Kiva. The leader appears, leaving a trail of blessings, the Katsinam are here.  The motion of their heads swing, then stop, like curious birds. In the name of their Clans, their gratitude, and for all Hopi and everything and everyone which is alive in the universe, they bless with cornmeal. The Song Leader shakes his rattle, then hits the ground hard with his right foot, shaking the turtle shell and immediately all of the Katsina's fall into step.  A litany of sound, a song so deep, comes from them, mysterious and gut-renching, and sky-bounds from earth. Their feathers vibrate, rattles shake, dancers move with computer-like precision, heel down and then up, shuffle, shuffle, then they turn, one at a time, like a long wave. They stop and the silence is deafening as the crowd watches expectantly. During the ceremony, one Katsina turns his head searching for a child, a special child invited with his parents to come to this remarkable and amazing ceremony, to give a gift so that all people would know a good and fruitful harvest.
The Angak'tsina is truly a Hopi Katsina in very sense of the word. Perhaps he is the most friendly of all Katsinam.  He wears the traditional hair-style worn by Hopi men after their initiation into the priesthood society. On this Katsina, the Eagle fluff down is worn on his beard which is red instead of black and in Angak'tsina's long hair, it represents the cloud burst that brings life-giving rain to bless the earth and make her bountiful.  This Longhair Red Beard was carved by Marty Ovah, of the Ovah family of First Mesa and it is signed on the bottom in black marker which has faded over the years.  This amazing Katsina is carved from one solid piece of cottonwood root. The wonderful color is made naturally from herbs and berries.  Size: 13" High x 3" Wide 
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Angwusnasomtaka ( Crow Mother) is a figure of great dignity. Crow Mother, unlike many of the other Katsina's, appears on all three of the Mesas. Crow Mother usually is in connection with the initiation of children, although she also appears on other occasions. At the rites she descends into the Kiva bearing a large number of yucca blades bound together at the base and held in her arms. 

During specific ceremonies Crow Mother will take a position at one corner of the large sand painting on the floor of the Kiva, with one of her "sons" on either side of her. As the ceremonial candidate is brought forward to the sand painting Crow Mother will hand a whip to one of the Hu Kachinas who then proceeds to give the child four healthy strokes with the yucca blade. When the yucca becomes worn it is handed back to the Crow Mother who then supplies a new one.  This continues until the initiatory whipping is over. At this point Crow Mother will raise her skirts and receives the same treatment accorded the children.  Prayer feathers are then given with a meal before leaving the Kiva. Crow Mother is sometimes confused with Angwushahai-i because she talks.

Carving is 5 inches high x 4 inches wide including the stand of which she is glued to.
Condition is Excellent.  Signed on the bottom.

A Mud Head Katsina is called Koyemsi and is a clown seen in most Hopi ceremonies. The Mudhead is often seen playing the drum, as well as dancing, playing games with the audience, and sometimes even as announcer for certain events. Koyemsi gives prizes to the winners of races and guessing games they organize. The term "mudhead" comes from their masks which have mud applied to them.

Most of the time they accompany other Katsina's. The one exception is during Night Dances. On First Mesa and possibly other villages their songs are in Zuni. During a dance, they may engage in games with the boys and girls in the audience when the other dancers are resting. Sometimes only a single Mudhead may appear as a drummer for a group. A Med Head appears in almost every Hopi dance.

This Katsina carving is 6 inches tall and 2 inches wide, including the stand of which it is glued to. It is handmade from cottonwood root and hand painted with natural dye. Signed on the bottom.

Condition is Excellent.