Hopi Kachina Bear Doll By B. Koiya

Late 20th Century

8.75" H

Hand Carved from Cottonwood Root and is a very handsome carving

In Good Condition with a Feather wand in left hand that was repaired near hand

B. Koiya is a contemporary Hopi carver from the Third Mesa villages (likely Hotevilla or Bacavi on the Hopi Reservation). Hopi artists like Koiya traditionally carve from cottonwood root (paako), paint with natural pigments mixed with sand for texture, and adorn with feathers, yarn, or leather. Koiya's work often follows old-style or traditional aesthetics from the 1930s onward, emphasizing authenticity over tourist appeal. Many Hopi carvers, including Koiya, create for cultural preservation and trade, adhering to post-1934 religious freedoms under the Indian Reorganization Act.