White Ogre Tihu (Katsina Figure)
About this video
A short video on a Hopi White Ogre katsina carving. Katsina figures are carved wooden figures given to children during ceremonies as blessings, and the ogre's bulging eyes, horns and teeth represent a disciplinarian who reminds children to obey and respect elders. Later, the Hopi also began carving figures for sale, and this one was likely an early piece made for collectors.
You'll be able to
- explain why katsina figures are given to Hopi children.
- interpret the features of the White Ogre katsina.
- explain the difference between figures made for ceremony and figures made for sale.
Key words
- katsina (kachina)
- A Hopi spirit being; carved wooden figures of katsinas are called tihu.
- disciplinarian
- Someone who enforces rules and good behaviour.
- collectible
- An object that people want to buy and keep because it is valued or rare.
Transcript
VALLO: The Hopi tribe in Northeastern Arizona is known for the pottery-making tradition, but also the creation of carved wooden figures, also known as kachinas or katsina carvings, and they are gifted to children during ceremony as a blessing to the child for growth and prosperity and good health, and wisdom.
The bulging eyes, the horns, the teeth, representative of a disciplinarian visiting the villages in Hopi to remind the children that they must be obedient, that they must respect elders, respect parents. Later on the tribe decided that they would begin creating similar carvings for sale to the public, and so these are highly collectible, and this particular white ogre katsina is likely to be have been one of those earlier pieces created for sale.
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