For use in the katchina dances, katchina baskets are
made, and if one were to start a collection of all the katchina baskets of
the Hopi, he could look forward to possessing, in time, as large a number
as Dr. Fewkes has of katchipa dolls.
Indian Pottery. Hopi, Acoma, Santa Clara, Zuni and, other pottery abounds
side by side with Navaho blankets, war clubs, bridles, quirts, moccasins,
Sioux beadwork, pouches, and baby-carrying baskets. Not only can the Navaho
women be found weaving blankets, but, what comparatively few white persons
have ever seen, in one of the rooms is a Hopi man weaving a blanket, which
I question could be told from a Navaho, even by an expert, unless he saw it
woven. In another room, the Hopi's wife is making pottery.
During the day, time, when required, the attendants will gladly show
visitors the collection of rarer curios on the second floor. An anachronism
introduced here, to meet modern requirements, is the indoor stairway, but
one excuses it for the sake of the interesting, symbolic, katchina figures
that have been painted on the staircase walls.
Mexican Antiques. Here one room is devoted to Mexican
antiques, - candlesticks, crucifixes, paintings, tapestry, bells,
incense-burners, wooden plow, a model of the ancient caretta, chairs,
daggers, etc.
Alaska Room. The Alaska Room contains models of totem poles, carvings on
ivory and wood, boats, snowshoes, shields, baskets of several varieties,
Haida hats, etc.
Ancient Blankets. The Old Blanket Room contains an assortment of the rarer
and older Navaho, Mexican and Chimillo blankets, some of which are in the
exquisite old colors used before modern aniline dyes were known. Scattered
about also are some rare pieces of ancient pottery in black and white, dug
out from ruins in Arizona and New Mexico.
Hopi Altar Room. By far the most interesting room in the house to the
thoughtful inquirer is the Hopi Altar Room. Here are two reproductions of
altars made by the ethnologist, Rev. H. R. Voth, who was led to his study
of the Hopi while a Mennonite missionary to the Oraibi pueblo. These altars
are thus described by him:
Tao Altar. One of the fraternities among the Hopi Indians of Arizona is the
Tao or Singer Society. Such altars are erected in connection with the
sacred and secret ceremonies in underground rooms or kivas in the different
Hopi villages. Around these altars the priests arrange themselves,
squatting on the floor, during their ceremonies, and engage in singing,
sprinkling of sacred meal, smoking, asperging of sacred water, etc. Here
they prepare their prayer offerings, utter their prayers, and practise
numerous other religious rites. Of the slabs and sticks in the ridge of the
altar those of a zigzag form represent lightning, which is supposed to
emanate from clouds, which are represented by the terraced parts on top of
the slabs.
