Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2009 School for Advanced Research.
Yamu Hak Du kokko we'ha | Stick on Head kokko figure
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Overall: 44.7 cm (17 5/8 in.)
Medium: wood | paints | leather | feathers | cotton | cloth, synthetic | metal, iron
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for inclusion in the Mary Austin Memorial Collection.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.C252
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”): Yamu Hak Du is associated with IAF.C294 (Hututu), who accompanies him to Shalako. Yamu Hak Du is part of the Long Horn group (which is a group consisting of six kokko). It is a very energetic dancer who is always dancing and never walks or stops. It's name translates roughly to "Stick on top of his head."
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, possibly pine. Its face and head are painted with a blue mineral paint. It has round, black eyes and a round, black mouth. The head is painted exactly as the dancer would be. The black hair on top of the head is mohair. Three dyed yellow feathers are tied to the mohair. The blue stick on top of the head is painted with blue azurite paint. There are red and green yarns tied with cotton string to either end of the stick.
There is a cotton cloth collar at the base of the figure’s face, painted with black and white vertical stripes.
The figure’s torso and upper arms are painted with a thin wash of orange paint, with yellow stripes on both the front on back. The yellow paint may be a commercial paint. The forearms are also painted yellow. The right wrist has purple yarn tied on it. The left wrist has a black leather bow guard tied onto it. Each hand holds an antler formed from leather that is dyed black on one side. The one on the right has turkey feathers tied to one of the tines and the one on the left has a chicken feather. The real antlers that a dancer would hold would have an eagle feather tied to each tine.
The figure wears a brain tanned buckskin kilt. Over top of the kilt it wears a handwoven red, green, and black sash belt that is a real sash belt that has been cut in half. Tied over top of that is a white cotton fabric sash with green, black, and red fabric sewn on to it with white thread to represent the embroidery on a brocade sash. It is not tied correctly.
The figure’s thighs are painted white, its knees are orange, and its calves are yellow. There is a navy blue yarn tied to each calf (it appears to be synthetic yarn). The moccasins are handmade blue, red, and yellow leather moccasins with black soles.
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.