Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2009 School for Advanced Research.
Ayna Nu Ah Ha kokko we'ha | Ayna Nu Ah Ha kokko figure
Date: before 1974
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Overall: 31.8 cm (12 1/2 in.)
Medium: wood | paints | leather | cotton | cloth, unknown | metal, brass? | metal, iron
Credit Line: Gift of the Estate of Amelia Elizabeth White.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: SAR.1978-1-138
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit April 6 and 7, 2009 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 1”): This kokko is part of the Buffalo dance group and the Feathers-In-A-Row dance group. During the Buffalo Dance, this dancer is the one who tries to keep the buffalo in line, but really he riles him up and is the first one to run away, leaving the buffalo taming to another dancer. His personality is that of a braggart and show-off, but at heart is really more of a coward.
The original catalog record identified this kokko as a "Zuni matachina doll." Zuni does not have a Matachina dance and this is not a matachina doll.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit April 10 and 11, 2014 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 13”): This kokko figure is carved from wood. The face is painted with a pinkish-orange natural clay. The eyes are black, possibly a black mineral paint. The nose is attached to the head with tiny finishing nails. The mouth is a painted black square surrounded by white paint and black concentric circles. There are pink clay dots surround the mouth. The cheeks are circles painted with red hematite, surrounded by white and black dots. The white paint is gypsum. He wears a commercially-tanned, hand-stitched white leather cap that extends down to the middle of his shoulder blades. The cap is affixed to the figure with small nails. The stick on the right side of the cap is fastened to it with white cotton string. His ears are made from leather loops and he wears large brass hoop earrings. The figure wears antlers around his neck, fanning out on either side of his face, shaped from wet leather that was dried to hold the correct shape. They are held onto the figure with white cotton string.
The kokko wears a cape made from what is probably commercially-tanned cow leather. The central portion of the cape, both front and back, is made from black leather that has faded to gray. An orange fringe is sewn onto the edge of the black leather.
The figure is missing its right arm. The left arm is articulated at the shoulder and attached to the body with a nail through the shoulder. There are three bands visible on the arm where something was glued to it; fibers are still visible, embedded in an adhesive. There is also a band of this glue/fiber residue on the figure’s hand.
The arm and torso are painted with the same pinkish-orange clay as the face. The figure has a black band of fabric around its torso that was meant for hanging it on a wall.
The right leg is carved from the same solid piece of wood as the rest of the figure. The left is a separate piece that is nailed on with two nails. It is bent in a way to make it look like the figure is in the middle of a dance step. The upper part of the figure’s thighs is painted white, while the knees are painted pinkish orange. The figure wears knit black stockings and hand-made moccasins sewn with sinew.
There are several pieces missing from the kokko’s outfit as compared to what the dancer would wear. On its head, it should have tight curly black hair, the stick on the side of the cap should have about four feathers tied onto it, and the string tie on the back of the head should have two long pheasant tail fans hanging from it (like the ones worn by the buffalo kokko carving IAF.C2). Though this figure is wearing leather representations of deer antlers, the dancer would wear real deer antlers. It’s missing several cheap necklaces that the dancer would wear. On its left arm, it’s missing a bow guard, and it should also have a bow and arrows in its left hand. If it had its right arm still, it would hold a boomerang rabbit stick in its right hand. It’s missing the bobcat skin kilt that the dancer would wear.
In Collection(s)
The Indian Arts Research Center, in collaboration with Native American community scholars, strives to present accurate collections records. Records may be updated as new information becomes available and is reviewed with the Native American community having cultural affinity to particular items. Please write to iarc@sarsf.org if you have questions or concerns related to the documentation.