Hopi Pueblo Na’somta Tsutsukutu - Hairknot Clown [R]

There is a group of Hopi Clowns named Tsutskutu.  Some of them have yellow body paint and are known as Sikya Tsuku and others have white body paint and are known as O-oto Tsuku.  The Na’somta Tsutsukutu clown illustrated here by Ronald Honyouti is one of the O-oto Tsuku clowns.  Their name derives from the manner in which they have their hair tied in a knot. 

In this carving, Honyouti shows the clown winking one eye, with tongue sticking out, cigarette in hand, and sitting on his drum for which he is still holding the drumstick. He has a portable radio strapped across his back and has headphones over his ears.  The carving of the body is proportional and the expression on the clown’s face is remarkable.

Condition:  original condition

Provenance: this Na'somta Tsutsukutu - Hairknot Clown is from the estate of Tom Mittler, a former resident of Michigan and Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Hopi Katsina: 1,600 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf