Leon Dallas
Palhik Mana
11 1/2"
H with 1 1/4" base
The Palhik Mana, or Butterfly
Maiden, is one of the most popular kachinas in the Hopi carvers'
repertoire. This beautifully dressed figure is not really a kachina,
but rather a woman's dance personage.
Women who appear in the Mamzrau
Initiation Dance are called the Palhik' Manas. They are never
masked except on Third Mesa, although they all appear to be when
carved as dolls. The carvings typically include an elaborate
tableta including butterfly and corn symbols.
Leon began carving kachinas
full-time as an adult. He has developed a distinctive style that
features rich colors and shading on his figures. His attention
to detail is shown not only in his exquisite carving, but also
in the costume and accouterments of the kachina.
He has said that the Kachinas
reflect his Hopi heritage in two ways; first from the way that
they appear and also with their associated meanings. Leon feels
that the Hopi people are an intrinsically artistic culture.
He typically signs his kachinas
on the bottom. Leon has a large extended family of carvers, including
his brother Eugene Dallas.
