Henry Shelton (1929–2016). <em>Kachina Doll (Paalhikmana)</em>, 1960–1970. Cottonwood root, acrylic pigment, feathers, yarn, beads, 19 x 10 x 5 1/2 in. (48.3 x 25.4 x 14 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Edith and Hershel Samuels, 2010.6.6. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2010.6.6.jpg)

Henry Shelton (1929–2016). Kachina Doll (Paalhikmana), 1960–1970. Cottonwood root, acrylic pigment, feathers, yarn, beads, 19 x 10 x 5 1/2 in. (48.3 x 25.4 x 14 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Edith and Hershel Samuels, 2010.6.6. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2010.6.6.jpg)

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Kachina Doll (Paalhikmana)

Arts of the Americas

ARTIST Henry Shelton, 1929–2016

CULTURE Pueblo, Hopi

MEDIUM Cottonwood root, acrylic pigment, feathers, yarn, beads

Place Made: Oraibi, Third Mesa, Arizona, United States

DATES 1960–1970

DIMENSIONS 19 x 10 x 5 1/2 in. (48.3 x 25.4 x 14 cm) (show scale)

SIGNATURE H. Shelton on the bottom

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 2010.6.6

CREDIT LINE Gift of Edith and Hershel Samuels

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Butterfly Girl (Polimana) Kachina. This Kachina has a body carved from one piece of cottonwood root. She wears a large, rayed headdress painted brilliantly with blue, yellow and red stripes and black dots that indicate pollen on the front. The back of the headdress is red with a cluster of feathers on the back of her head and three braided yarns, one each, red, green, white hanging down the back. She stands on both feet and raises her PR arm holding two feathers in each hand. Her clothing is also all carved. She wears a blue dress with darker blue apron with red and green bands on the bottom and a red sash with a broken diamond pattern. She has a short white shawl with red edges around her PL shoulder. Butterfly Girl appears during Angk'wa (night dances). It is a series of colorful dances usually performed with four pairs of maidens and male partners (all kachinas portrayed by males). The Angk'wa is sponsored by a kiva to promote all life-growth.

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Henry Shelton (1929–2016). Kachina Doll (Paalhikmana), 1960–1970. Cottonwood root, acrylic pigment, feathers, yarn, beads, 19 x 10 x 5 1/2 in. (48.3 x 25.4 x 14 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Edith and Hershel Samuels, 2010.6.6. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2010.6.6.jpg)

IMAGE overall, CUR.2010.6.6.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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Kachina Doll (Paalhikmana)

Arts of the Americas

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