The Kachina Motel
 All content copyright 2013 Peggy DeMouthe     ® The Kachina Motel
How to recognize authentic Hopi katsina dolls
This is a much-needed guide to help folks tell the difference between a real Hopi kachina and one of the multitudes of fakes. In my other guides, I have discussed why buying authentic Hopi kachina dolls is important, from both an ethical and a collection-quality standpoint. Since there is a lot of variation in kachina appearance, not only between time periods but between individual carvers, I realized that some photos of the details, plus some reference images of actual kachina regalia, might be helpful. 

We always hear that knowledge is power, so let's put the power to recognize fakes into your hands (or eyes, as it were). As you know, kachina dolls have evolved over time due to cultural, economic, and material factors. However, the basic design elements have remained constant and have been well-documented for more than a century. Because each element of a kachina's regalia has meaning and has been established through long tradition, it is actually relatively easy to identify which variations are authentic.

Kilts and sashes: When the live kachinas dance in the plazas, the most common item of regalia they wear is the kilt (skirt); the design most often seen is white, with the edges bordered in black and on the right side a stylized design embroidered in red, green, and black. This is usually accompanied by a long, narrow dance sash in red and black. Here is a picture of a real kachina kilt and dance sash to show how they appear when worn:

Kachinas may also appear wearing a buckskin kilt or tunic, a snake-dancer's kilt of brown with a snake design, or sometimes a kilt made of checkered cloth or a woman's black dress. Kachinas may also wear a folded white kilt or black dress as a breechcloth, and sometimes will wear pahana (white man's) clothing such as bluejeans or an old suit. No matter when the doll was made, you will see these same designs consistently.
Along with these, kachinas also often wear a wide, elaborately embroidered sash. A real one is easy to recognize; the symbols represent clouds, rain, bean sprouts and corn (not a kachina face, as some believe). Some kachinas may appear with a rain sash, which is a wide white cotton belt that has long fringe to represent falling rain. Fake kachinas may have a painted belt of some kind but the design will not be accurate--remember that the Hopi designs have remained essentially the same for generations. 


Fur and leather: One of the key giveaways of a fake kachina is the use of large amounts of rabbit fur and colorful leather. In reality, an authentic kachina doll will have fur in only a few places: around the neck as a ruff, across the shoulders as a cape, or to represent the fox skin that is often worn at the back of the belt. Sometimes a small amount is used for anklets. Buffalo and Wolf kachinas often have fur head-pieces. 
Sometimes a "hunter" will carry a small piece of fur in one hand to represent a rabbit or other prey. Likewise, depending on which kachina is represented, leather may be used in capes or bandoliers, as arm-bands and bowguards, or on mocassins. Dolls with a lot of random dangling leather ornaments or leather clothing in bright colors are not likely to be real.

Yarn: As with leather, yarn should only appear in a limited number of colors--mainly black, green, white, or red. Yarn is used to create ruffs at the neck or for bandoliers worn across the chest, and it may be tied around arms or legs. It can also be used to represent red or black horsehair on a beard, moisture-plate, or belt. Use of yarn varies with different time periods (dolls from the 1960s and 1970s used a lot!). Some collectors don't like to see yarn on a kachina, but it is authentic nonetheless.

Body paint: Kachina dolls most often appear with brown bodies (i.e., bare skin) and with their shoulders painted blue and yellow to represent the sun and sky. However they may also have brown bodies with animal signs, which are large white circles filled with black, and dotted with white. Others have black body paint with yellow shoulders, or with the linked crescents that represent hands clasped in friendship. Some ogres or other figures may use white or grey body paint, and clowns use stripes and various other colors. Sometimes, like shoulders, legs may be blue or yellow, and Heheya kachinas often have tattoos that represent fertility symbols.
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