$445.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
ca. 1980
12.5" H
Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root Holding a Staff San Juan Katsina Dolls are Relatively Rare - Rare to Find
Excellent Condition
The Koshare is probably one of the best-known Hopi clowns, however, his origins are from Tewa Pueblos (see below), as is this one. The Koshare most likely arrived at Hopi with the pueblo immigrants following the Pueblo Revolt, when they were given a village atop First Mesa, which is known as Hano Village. They live there today and still speak the Tewa language, but they have also adopted the Hopi language. The Koshare has been adopted by Hopi so exclusively that he is now seen at all the Hopi villages and has a Hopi name.
The New Mexico Tewa people call this clown Koosa, not Koshare. The avowed purpose of these clowns is to amuse, but their humor is concerned with what is not an accepted way of life for the Hopi. During a plaza event, the clowns pantomime things that are not acceptable behavior. Gluttony, for instance, is one of the things they pantomime and, in doing so, point out to the Hopi that gluttony is wrong. The pantomime is usually so humorous that the audience goes into hysterical laughter.
Tewa or Tano: one of three Kiowa-Tanoan languages spoken by the Pueblo people of New Mexico. Though these three languages are closely related, speakers of one cannot fully understand speakers of another. The six Tewa-speaking pueblos are Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Santa Clara, and Tesuque.
Due to the fragile nature of kachina dolls, we do not guarantee they will not break during shipping. We do our best to pack them well, but due to their fragile nature and even with the best packing, small pieces can break. If you are purchasing kachina dolls, please keep this in mind.
