Kachina: Messengers of the Hopi and Zuni Gods

Mischievous, roguish, or kind spirits of nature represented by handmade children’s dolls, known as kachinas, are explored in this colorful volume in the context of the Hopi and Zuñi Native American cultures of New Mexico and Arizona. The study covers their origins, the religious practices surrounding them, their creator’s carving styles, restoration, ornamentation, and a chapter on the world’s oldest known kachina. Illustrating the Western culture’s fascination with the strong suggestive power of these figurines, this investigation also delves into their form within the context of ritual celebrations, during which they are embodied by masked and costumed dancers. This edition is written in both English and French.