I recently bought a collection of four Hopi katsinam from the 1920s from a Santa Fe collection. Within the four were a rather closely matched set of Ahote katsinam. This example is the Sakwa or Blue version. The other on this site is the Sikya or Yellow version. Ahote katsinam are said to have come from the Plains Indians. This Blue Ahote has black and yellow stars on the face. His hands are in the classic ponotutuyqa or “belly ache” position. The mineral pigments are vibrant; it has tiny pointed feet. The katsina has a professional stand that displays it stably. The base slides off one leg for ease of shipping. It is 9″ tall with the feathers adding 2.5 “. There is an old collection tag attached to the original hanging string. On that tag is the number 105 which is Harold Colton’s number for what was then called the “Hot’e” katsina. It appears on p. 44 of his classic work, “Hopi Kachina Dolls with a Key to Their Identification,” 1949.
