This playful character is believed to represent the “Hochani” or Racoon Kachina. The name Hochani is the Keresan term for Chief or Headman. According to legend, he was a Hopi man who went to live in the Rio Grande during difficult times and returned bearing gifts for the Hopi. He may appear in Kiva Dances in the winter, but most is often seen in the Mixed Kachina Dances in the spring. Formerly, Hochani was a much more popular katsina than he is at present.  He is danced, but not as frequently.

The Raccoon is a protector and generous provider for those in need. A raccoon will provide for the others of its group before taking anything for itself, showing no sense of greed. There is an almost mystical ability in raccoon medicine that teaches us to assist those in need without allowing them to become victims or dependents.

This example is an impressive carving, standing an unusually generous 13.75” tall, or around 16.5” if you include the head feathers! His condition is commensurate for its age, which I would date to around the 1940’s… one hand appears to have been repaired (see photos) and there are losses to the paint here and there. As is common with these hand carved cottonwood root Kachinas, the wood has split in various places (mostly on the back) but it does not at all affect the integrity of the piece. He has a fur applied to the top of the head, and carries a bow and rattle. His pigmentation seems to be of tempera paint, which is common for Kachinas of this time period. The ears each feature holes which may have once held feathers. Like many carvings of this era, he is not signed and his maker is no longer known. He has been in my collection for many years, and before that came from the estate of an Ojai, California collector.

He stands on his feet but also has string around the neck for hanging, which is my preferred way to display Kachinas.

This piece can be shipped or picked up at my Santa Fe studio.