Hopi-Tewa Koosa (Koshari) Clown Losing His Trousers [SOLD]

Marlin Pinto is a Hopi who was born at Zuni Pueblo.  His mother is Shirley Ben, his grandmother was Daisey Hooee Nampeyo, and his great grandmother was Annie Healing Nampeyo, which makes his great great grandmother Nampeyo of Hano.  Marlin started carving when he was only eleven years old and quickly became famous for his exquisite miniature katsina doll carvings.  Later, he became even more famous for his truly outstanding larger one-piece katsina doll carvings.

This clown, known by its Tewa name, Koosa, is generally known by the name Koshari.  They are clowns whose purpose is to tease and entertain at dances.  They are not considered Katsinas but do appear with them in plaza dances.  They have black stripes painted all over their bodies, are clad only in a loincloth and have their hair tied in upright pigtails. 

These clowns can be quite ribald but in doing so their purpose is to teach the Hopi manners that are acceptable and those that are not.  In this instance, this clown has loosened the rope that was holding up his pants and has allowed his trousers to drop in back and expose his tattooed buttocks, the tattoo being a heart with an arrow piercing it.

There are few carvers whose work is of the quality of that of Marlin Pinto.  Every aspect of this doll is exquisite.  The detail of this hair, the Levi-style shorts and his facial features are almost unbelievable.  The entire carving is 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