According to Hopi legend, Mudhead is the clown of ceremonial dances, and his duty as a cosmic trickster is to amuse the audience during pauses in sacred rituals. Leaping around the circle, Mudhead reminds the big chiefs that a higher power is in control and they need to lighten up. He's ridiculous and humbling – and essential to the dance.

Shalako Kachina Dolls are traditionally carved out of a single piece of cottonwood tree root. The artist starts with a rough log of cottonwood root. The Kachina Carver begins carving their style of Kachina Dolls, covering them with beads, feathers, fur, leather and turquoise. The basic shape for the doll is carved out, with finer details being carved as the work progresses. After the carving is finished, the doll is hand painted with the appropriate colors of the Kachina it represents.

The wood stand they are on measures 7 3/4x 2 3/4 the 4  Mudheads are about 3 1/2 inches tall and the 2 Shalako are about 6 inches tall