Mongwa “Owl” Kachina 1970’s By Hopi carver Signed By Bernie Talus

Description

This beautiful Kachina doll, titled "Mongwa 'Owl' ", was carved by Bernie Talus, a Hopi artist who carved for a Scottsdale gift shop in the 1970’s.
Please take a good look at the photos … bow needs repair
The Great Horned Owl or Mongwa (sometimes spelled Mongwu) is a very popular Kachina carving. The creativity of some carvers in making the head of the Great Horned Owl is always interesting. This owl is a popular Kachina among carvers because of the many possibilities of carving it. The Mongwa Kachina is famous for his disciplinary battles with the clowns. Whenever the clowns' behavior becomes too outrageous, they are disciplined by him. To keep their outrageous antics from interrupting the ceremony, the owl supervises the clowns during many of the ceremonies. Mongwa would usually watch the clowns with a heavy, disapproving stare. When a clown does get out of order, he would leap upon the clown, catch him, douse him with water, and beat him with his yucca blades. It is a ritual that this event takes place during the ceremony.
This Owl kachina is beneficial to agriculture because of his destruction of harmful rodents. He symbolizes intelligence, wisdom and a good hunt.