- The Artifact Collection Gallery Catalog
- >
- Kachinas, Dolls, Tabletas & Rattles
- >
- Hopi Kachinas under $500
- >
- 210607-11 Large Hopi Koshare Kachina by Koope, ca. 1970, 20.5" h
210607-11 Large Hopi Koshare Kachina by Koope, ca. 1970, 20.5" h
ca. 1970
20.5" tall
Shows sold old breaks and repairs, but in overall good condition.
Koshare is a sacred clown of the Hopi, one that you’re likely to see at Katsina ceremonies. He is one of several clowns, which are sometimes called jesters or tricksters. He is a powerful figure and important to the community.A popular image of the clown is a man that has painted himself with wide horizontal stripes of black and white. He often wears a skull cap that also features black and white stripes. Giving him an even more unique appearance are the corn husks sprouting like horns from the top of the cap. Often, the corn husk horns are Koshare’s natural hair braided up into horns with the corn husks weaved in. He covers himself with a loincloth, and dark bands adorn his arms and legs. The clown protects his feet with leather boots. You’ll notice that his face is painted white and that he has black circles surrounding his eyes and mouth.If you’re in the presence of a Koshare, he is often making noise with a rattle and a drum. The Hopi religion associates him with fertility, sun, rain and corn. It is believed that these things give him power. He also has the double role of characterizing a paranormal spirit and being a society organizer. To involve the audience in his antics, he likes to imitate their behavior and include them in amusing skits.
These skits are serious because they purposefully depict actions that are unacceptable. The clown may decide to target any member of the audience during one of his performances, which means that no one is safe from being ridiculed or included. He has the important job of being a protector of cultural behavior customs. Those who take on the role of the clown don’t inherit the position. No one appoints them either. They choose it because the job calls to them.Different stories exist when it comes to Koshare’s origination. Most of them feature major elements like the sun, rain, fertilization and corn. These elements are highly valued because they are vital to people’s existence, prosperity and happiness. However, the clown’s power means that the people revere and fear him. In the Pueblo hierarchy, he is highly admired and valued.
The Native Americans have experienced many instances of Europeans persecuting their revered clowns, causing them to protect rituals involving them. Because of this, tribal members generally do not talk about them. The only way that researchers have been able to learn more about him and his comrades has been to study anthropological papers and consider all clowns and what they mean to people and societies.