Hopi Kachina Badger Doll By Pooley

ca.  1970

4.5" H

Hand carved from Cottonwood Root

Excellent Condition

The Pooleys are a prominent Hopi family of Katsina carvers from Hotevilla Village on Second Mesa.  Their work gained fame through sales at trading posts along Route 66, starting in the 1940s–1950s.  These dolls are handcrafted by members of the renowned Pooley family of Hopi carvers, often in the "Route 66 style"—a simplified, curio-shop aesthetic popularized along historic Route 66 in the mid-20th century for tourists.  This style features compact, blocky forms with minimalistic painting and carving, contrasting with more elaborate traditional or contemporary Hopi Katsinas.  The Pooley family, based near the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona, has produced these for generations, blending cultural significance with accessible artistry.