Kachina dolls are carved from the root of the cottonwood tree and are representations of the kachina dancers who impersonate the actual kachinas.  A kachina may be the spirit of a plant, animal, place, object or person.  The basic function of a kachina is a teaching aid and only a bare minimum of painting and carving is necessary.  The amount of detail is up to the carver. 

The concept of the kachina is just over a century old.  It may stem back to the kachina alter figures that serve a different purpose.  Early kachinas were plain and simple but over the past 50 years more elaborate kachinas have become more popular.  The older style is not more authentic or better, it is just another style.

The amount of detail that can be put into a kachina is tremendous.  The artist can even carve the kachina with individually carved fingers down to the lines on the knuckles.  The degree of detail will be the most important factor in the price.  A kachina doll with a great deal of detail will generally be more expensive than one that is of a simpler design.  A better kachina doll is not always "better" but it will be more expensive.

Care of your Kachina Doll

Avoid hanging a kachina doll under the vent of an evaporative cooler or some other humid area.  This could cause the paint to blister and flake off.  Keep it out of direct sunlight as this may also damage the paint.  Bugs may also damage your dolls.  They may attack the feathers or the wood.  To prevent this you can fumigate them or spray with a good insecticide spray at a distance of not less than twelve inches. 

If an arm or leg should break off it can be reattached with a small brad or short length of toothpick and applying a drop of white glue.