Santa Clara Kachina, Saint Santiago on a Horse

Santa Clara Pueblo

Wood, Hide, Cloth, Paints | Item 2131

This is a highly interesting Santa Clara creation of Saint Santiago on his horse. Santiago kicked the Moors out of Spain during the early years. He is a Saint adopted by the Pueblos as they converted to Catholicism. He is always seen entering on a horse to seek out his mission as he is played out here in this Kachina form.

On this example the horse is actively going forward as evident by the active reigns in his hands. Santiago sits on a painted piece of hide acting as a saddle blanket. The blanket is painted much like a Rio Grande style manta, as if it’s an embroidered end section on each side. Santiago himself is masked with a piece of black cloth tied at the neck. He wears a hide crown dyed with green copper pigment characteristic of the coloring of hide within the Pueblos. The tail appears to be fine human hair. Under the cloth one can see that the horse is painted with black spots on a white body. His arms are articulated at the shoulder with his body and arms all painted in black. The hands are the natural wood color and hold the reigns for the horse. The base is an oval piece of wood, likely cottonwood, gessoed then painted.

The overall effect of this creation is both odd and alluring. Santiago having no face is perplexing and may hold a message that I do not yet understand. I do know that Santiago also killed Natives, and this covering of his face may be related to that knowledge. The hide crown is one of the most critical parts of this ensemble as it shows that he’s the king. The whole creation is a wonderful piece of Native folk art, as a Euro-American might call it.