Collection
/
Arts of the Americas

Kachina Doll (Nataoska)

Henry Shelton; Pueblo, Hopi

1 of 3

Object Label

Oötsawihazru Kachina is an Ogre’s Uncle, a so-called White Ogre. These Kachinas are a little more patient than the Black Ogres, such as Chaveyo (seen nearby). Ogres, collectively called Soo’so’yokto, appear near the end of the Powamuya (Bean Dance) ceremony held in February, in which the participating Kachina spirits are implored to carry out purification of all life. Their role as Ogres is to scare people into behaving properly and following the rules.

Caption

Henry Shelton (1929–2016); Pueblo, Hopi. Kachina Doll (Nataoska), 1960–1970. Wood, paint, hide, feathers, fur, yarn, silver, wool or cotton, 22 × 9 1/2 × 9 in. (55.9 × 24.1 × 22.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Edith and Hershel Samuels, 2010.6.7. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Title

Kachina Doll (Nataoska)

Date

1960–1970

Medium

Wood, paint, hide, feathers, fur, yarn, silver, wool or cotton

Classification

Sculpture

Dimensions

22 × 9 1/2 × 9 in. (55.9 × 24.1 × 22.9 cm)

Signatures

H. Shelton, drawn arrow underneath the name, located on the bottom

Credit Line

Gift of Edith and Hershel Samuels

Accession Number

2010.6.7

Frequent Art Questions

  • Tell me more about this Kachina figure.

    This is one of our more contemporary Kachina figures. In sculptures like this, made during the 60s and 70s, the kachina doll proportions became more anatomically realistic and they were executed in action positions like these. This is Oötsawihazru Kachina, a white ogre. Ogres appear near the end of the Bean Dance in February.

  • Dime más.

    En el suroeste de los Estados Unidos, los espíritus sobrenaturales que representan una fuerza de vida o encarnan fenómenos naturales como el sol, la luna, las plantas o los animales se llaman Kachinas.
    Las muñecas Kachina se regalaron durante las ceremonias de Pueblo. Están tallados y decorados a semejanza de bailarines Kachina disfrazados que representan ciertos espíritus de Kachina.

Have information?

Have information about an artwork? Contact us at

bkmcollections@brooklynmuseum.org.

Artists and makers

Henry Shelton

13 works in the collection

Pueblo, Hopi

15 works in the collection