Hopi Pueblo Maiden Mana Kachina Doll By L. Pooley

Late 20th Century

5.75″ H x 1.75″ L x 2″ W

Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root and Painted in Red, Teal, Yellow, White and Black Colors with 1 Small Feather

In Very Good Condition with Missing Feather on top of her Head

The Pooley family is a recognized Hopi carving family from Hotevilla Village on the Hopi Reservation (Arizona). Members of the family, including Emil Pooley (b. 1912), George Pooley (19512009), and others, carved traditional kachina dolls during much of the 20th century. Their work, especially in the Route 66 style of miniatures, was popularized for trading posts and collectors from the 1940s onward. These miniatures typically carved from cottonwood root are known for solid form and clear, often simplified paint and detail.

A Kachina Mana (often just called Mana) is a maiden kachina figures in Hopi tradition. These figures represent female spirits associated with ceremonial roles commonly appearing in dances like Hemis or Niman (Home Dance). They can embody various aspects such as agricultural renewal, prayer, or companion roles to male kachinas.