Kwewu or Wolf Kachina doll
Maker: Otto Pentawa
Medium:Wood, fur, feathers, hide, wool, shells
Geography: Arizona, USA
Date: c. 1950
Dimensions:46 × 11 × 22.5 cm
Object number: 966.92.9
Credit Line: Gift of Miss Isabel McLaughlin
Gallery Location:Shreyas and Mina Ajmera Gallery of Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific
DescriptionKachina dolls represent spiritual messengers who ensure the well-being of the Hopi people. There are some 250 different types of kachina figures. During ceremonies, men dressed in kachina costumes form processions and distribute painted wooden kachinas to children throughout the village. These dolls, not considered as toys, are a means of preserving Hopi knowledge and beliefs through the generations.
