Large Hopi Pueblo Koshare Kachina Doll By Koope

ca. 1970

20.5" H

Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root Holding a Carrot and 2 Slices of Watermelon

In Good Condition but shows old breaks and repairs

Koope (Hopi artist Ron Koopee or a variant spelling; he was active from the 1980s onward, though earlier works exist, known for detailed carvings and drawings). Featuring the clown's distinctive striped paint, accessories like a rattle or drum (though specifics vary), and the humorous, expressive style of Hopi clown katsinas.

Koshare clowns are iconic in Hopi ceremonies (especially Katsina dances), serving as tricksters, teachers, and maintainers of social harmony. They often appear with black-and-white striped bodies, exaggerated features, and playful or satirical behaviors—symbolizing fertility, rain, corn, and community balance through humor and antics.