Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2014 School for Advanced Research.
Shulawitsi Kwina kokko we'ha | Black Fire Keeper kokko figure
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
20.9 x 7 cm (8 1/4 x 2 3/4 in.)
Medium: wood | paints | feathers | cotton | linen | wool? | yucca | metal, iron
Credit Line: Bequest of Ruth Holmwood; received in 1995.
Object Number: SAR.1994-8-122
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit April 10 and 11, 2014 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 13”): This figure was previously cataloged as Hopi. An IARC staff member noticed it while doing data entry for some Hopi katsina figures and realized it looked very much like the Zuni kokko IAF.C91, so it was added to the list of things to ask Jim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa to look at during the Zuni collection review sessions. They explained that they can’t be certain it wasn’t carved by a Hopi person, but if it was, it’s an exact representation of the way a Zuni figure of this type and time period would have been carved. They agreed with IARC staff that it would make sense to re-classify it as Zuni instead of Hopi.
This kokko figure is carved from wood, possibly pine. The paints used on it appear to be commercial, possibly poster paints. It is painted black with multi-colored dots over the surface of its whole body. The colors of the dots are red, yellow, and blue. The face of this figure doesn’t include eyes. There is a white wool rope, hand rolled, affixed to the top of the head (on the real dancer it would be made of cotton). Above that are three feathers. One of them is a turkey feather (the one with the white edge at the top). It isn’t clear what bird the other two feathers are from.
Below the face is a cloth collar that is painted with the same black and multi-colored dots as the rest of the body. A white cotton string is tied to the figure just below the collar.
The arms are articulated at the shoulders and attached to the body with a nail through each shoulder. A piece of yucca is tied to the right wrist with white string, possibly cotton or hemp. Three pieces of wood shaped and painted to resemble deer scapulae are tied to the left wrist, also with string that might be cotton or hemp. A piece of yucca is also tied to the left wrist. It appears to be broken; it should be as long as the piece tied to the right wrist.
There is a strip of white linen tied around the torso above the breechcloth, extending in back up to the figure’s shoulders, which was meant for hanging it on a wall. The figure wears a breechcloth made from a black wool (?) cloth with herringbone weave. A light turquoise blue belt over the breechcloth. It is made from white felt painted blue.
This figure is dressed for a night dance or the first summer solstice rain dance, called K’okwiaba in Zuni, or “Coming of the Kokko” in English, because of the items it carries in its hands. It also participates in Shalako but it carries different items in its hands for that event. See IAF.C91, which is carrying items representative of those used in Shalako.
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.