Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
De-Ne-Na-Kwe kokko we'ha | De-Ne-Na-Kwe kokko figure
Date: 1950-1970
Artist or Maker: Duane Dishta (1946 - 2011)
Dimensions:
30.5 cm (12 in.)
Medium: wood | paints | turquoise | cloth, unkown | cotton | felt, synthetic | yarn, synthetic | leather, buckskin
Credit Line: Gift of Henry S. Galbraith.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: SAR.1989-7-32
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”): The De-Ne-Na-Kwe singer drums and sings for the Nahalisho (IAF.C251) and Deer and Turkey dancer groups in the winter. It only comes out in the winter. This kokko is regal, distinguished, and noble looking. He is always dressed very nicely. He is very silent (except when singing) and doesn't have a call.
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 is carved from wood. The face is painted white. The eyes and mouth are indicated by painted black circles. A black horizontal line is painted across the forehead. The hair is made of strips of back synthetic felt glued onto the head. The headband is made of green yarn (it’s made of green yucca on the dancer).
Around the figure’s neck is a necklace made of several small turquoise chips glued onto a black felt backing.
The figure wears a shirt made from synthetic white cloth. A gray bandolier strap is made from pieces of gray synthetic felt glued onto the shirt. There is a bracelet on the right wrist made from a thin piece of aluminum, possibly from a beer or soda can. The right hand holds a drum beater. The drum beater is made of a small stick of wood with a leather beater tied to it with black string. The left hand holds a drum made from wood and buckskin tied to the hand with a loop of white cotton string. A belt made of red felt (faded) with two ends, hanging on either side of the figure, is glued around the waist. This is the correct arrangement of the belt, but a dancer would wear a concho belt over top of it. The figure’s skirt is made of somewhat faded black felt with red and green yarn glued to it near the bottom edge.
The leggings are made of the same white fabric as the shirt. These represent the white thermal underwear leggings that the dancer wears. The moccasins are made of red felt. The bottoms of the feet are glued to a thin, rectangular wooden base that is painted black.
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.