Hopi Pueblo. <em>Kachina Doll (Angwusnasomtaqa)</em>, late 19th century. Wood, pigment, wool yarn, cotton cord, feathers, 11 13/16 in. (30 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1904, Museum Collection Fund, 04.297.5563. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.04.297.5563_front.jpg)

Hopi Pueblo. Kachina Doll (Angwusnasomtaqa), late 19th century. Wood, pigment, wool yarn, cotton cord, feathers, 11 13/16 in. (30 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1904, Museum Collection Fund, 04.297.5563. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.04.297.5563_front.jpg)

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What do we know about the symbolism of the shapes on these kachinas--specifically the downward triangle?

The triangle with the bar symbolizes the figure's facial features, and the two black triangular pieces on the sides are wings.

Kachina Dolls are very powerful symbolic figures, and they convey multiple ideas and conceptions of the world. I'm sure that Pueblo people have many different ways of interpreting their message both in the abstract and more concrete sense.

Kachina Doll (Angwusnasomtaqa)

Arts of the Americas

Angwusnasomtaqa, or Crow Mother, is considered one of several Kachina mothers. The winglike forms on the side of her head make her easy to recognize. She serves many roles and functions, including participating in village initiation ceremonies for children ten to fifteen years old. Crow Mother can be a stern teacher because she knows all the etiquette and virtues of Kachina culture and how people should behave. She guides other Kachinas in knowing right from wrong.

CULTURE Hopi Pueblo

MEDIUM Wood, pigment, wool yarn, cotton cord, feathers

Place Collected: First Mesa, Arizona, United States

DATES late 19th century

DIMENSIONS 11 13/16 in. (30 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

EXHIBITIONS

Climate in Crisis: Environmental Change in the Indigenous Americas

ACCESSION NUMBER 04.297.5563

CREDIT LINE Museum Expedition 1904, Museum Collection Fund

RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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CAPTION Hopi Pueblo. Kachina Doll (Angwusnasomtaqa), late 19th century. Wood, pigment, wool yarn, cotton cord, feathers, 11 13/16 in. (30 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Museum Expedition 1904, Museum Collection Fund, 04.297.5563. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.04.297.5563_front.jpg)

IMAGE front, CUR.04.297.5563_front.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2011

"CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Kachina figure is probably Crow Mother-Angwusnasomtaqa and is one of the mothers of the Kachinas. She answers to the various calls of her children and certain ceremonial actions such as leading the performance and special initiation of children. As such she knows all the etiquette, moral ethics and virtues thus appears always to be very stately. Wing like forms on each side of head and the dark triangular shape with bar at base symbolize facial features are characteristic. Figure is painted blue, black, and white; feet are painted red. Feather headdress missing, surface wear.

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Download our app and ask your own questions during your visit. Here are some that others have asked.

What do we know about the symbolism of the shapes on these kachinas--specifically the downward triangle?

The triangle with the bar symbolizes the figure's facial features, and the two black triangular pieces on the sides are wings.