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Kachina Doll (Koyemsi)

Arts of the Americas

CULTURE Pueblo, Hopi
MEDIUM Cottonwood root, acrylic pigment, feathers, yarn, iron alloy
DATES 1960-1970
DIMENSIONS 16 3/4 × 7 × 5 5/8 in. (42.5 × 17.8 × 14.3 cm) mount: 17 × 7 × 5 1/2 in. (43.2 × 17.8 × 14 cm)  (show scale)
SIGNATURE H. Shelton on the bottom
COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
ACCESSION NUMBER 2010.6.3
CREDIT LINE Gift of Edith and Hershel Samuels
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Mud Head (Koyemshi) Kachina Doll. The figure is carved totally from one piece of wood. He wears a black skirt and carries a rattle in his PR hand and ears of corn dangle from his PL hand. He wears a green bandanna around his neck. The painted boot moccasins have silver and turquoise ornaments on them. The Mud Head's role during dances consist of a group of 9 of them clowning around, using the audience for their jokes, often lewd behavior and comic relief but with the underlying message that their behavior is totally improper and such antics are not what is to be done.
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Henry Shelton (1929-2016). Kachina Doll (Koyemsi), 1960-1970. Cottonwood root, acrylic pigment, feathers, yarn, iron alloy, 16 3/4 × 7 × 5 5/8 in. (42.5 × 17.8 × 14.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Edith and Hershel Samuels, 2010.6.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2010.6.3.jpg)
IMAGE overall, CUR.2010.6.3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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Henry Shelton (1929-2016). <em>Kachina Doll (Koyemsi)</em>, 1960-1970. Cottonwood root, acrylic pigment, feathers, yarn, iron alloy, 16 3/4 × 7 × 5 5/8 in. (42.5 × 17.8 × 14.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Edith and Hershel Samuels, 2010.6.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2010.6.3.jpg)