Native American, Southwestern United States, Hopi, ca. 2006 CE. A Koshari or clown kachina doll carved from wood and dressed in rabbit fur, leather, and brass rivets. The underside of the base is titled "Koshari," signed and dated: "Les. H. 06/06." In one hand is a knife and a bow with attached arrows. The bold black and white stripes and pronged headdress is iconic of Koshare This kachina is a sacred jester or trickster spirit, and dancers dressed as koshare will often parody and mock the audience to both invoke laughter and ridicule; they may also throw the watermelon at watchers! While humorous, the performances are meant as serious social commentaries. Size: 4.5" W x 10.75" H (11.4 cm x 27.3 cm)

The Katsinam, supernatural beings who live in the high mountains of the San Francisco Peaks above traditional Hopi territory, speak to the Hopi through costumed dance and song. These dancers emerge from the round ceremonial kivas that are at the center of their communities, singly or in groups, and dance to the music of drums, rattles, and song. Katsina figures (katsina dolls, katsin-tihu), are made of cottonwood root to represent these supernatural beings. Cottonwood is culturally symbolic because the cottonwood tree, once abundant in traditional Hopi lands, grows where water flows - thus, looking across a landscape, lines of cottonwood trees denote a water source in the desert. After carving, the figures are painted all over with whitewash, made from kaolin clay, and then painted in brilliant colors. Originally these were done using yucca brushes. Many katsina are then decorated with other materials, like feathers, cloth, or fur. Katsina dolls are often given objects to hold which indicate their roles.

Provenance: private Goldstein collection, Denver, Colorado, USA. The Goldstein's have amassed their collection over the past six decades.

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#177125

Intact and excellent. Some minor dust accumulation in fur. Clearly signed and dated on base.