Hopi Clown with a Captured Turkey between his Legs [SOLD]

This carving of the Hopi-Tewa clown might be picturing the clown riding the turkey as if in rodeo participation.  The expression on the clown's face could represent the feeling of the turkey's feathers tickling the clown's bottom as the feathers are spread completely across the back of the clown's lower body.

Wilmer Kaye is a famous Hopi carver from the village of Hotevilla at Third Mesa on the Hopi Reservation.  He mostly carves more sculptural renditions of katsinam in that the face area is accurately depicted and the remaining body is covered in a robe of sculptural style.  In this carving, he has depicted the clown in regular katsina doll form. 

One has to marvel at the extraordinary detail achieved on the turkey's feathers as viewed from the rear of the carving.  The facial expression of the clown is priceless.  This is an excellent carving from a single piece of cottonwood root.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: from the estate of Tom Mittler, a former resident of Michigan and Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Hopi Kachina Dolls and their carvers by Theda Bassman