Jimmie Koots Crow Mother Cradle Katsina

James Kootshongsie, AKA Jimmie Koots, was one of the most important Hopi carvers of all time. This example is one of the few putsqatihu or cradle katsinam that I’ve seen by him. This is Angwusnasomtaqa or Crow Mother. She is said to be the Mother of all the Katsinam, This carving is 10 1/2″ tall and 5 1/2″ wide. There is wear to the paint here and there but she still has a bold design. Jimmie never signed his katsinam but his grey douma or clay undercoat is unmistakable. For more info on Jimmie, see my book, “The Great Tradition of Hopi Katsina Carvers, 1880 – Present.”