Vintage 4.5' 4-1/2 FT KOSHARE CLOWN Kachina Doll Hand Built Clay Sculpture This gorgeous Koshare Clown kachina doll was hand carved and hand built out of natural clay gathered from the reservation and hand painted with dyes made from natural materials. We are not sure of the age, but estimate it to be from the 1970s or 80s era. Beautifully handcrafted and painted, his clay body is trimmed with raffia and leather and is quite a sight to behold! He stands on a stone base and measures approx 52" x 29" x 27-1/2", including the rock slab base. There are a couple very small chips, as per the last two pictures. Otherwise it is in very good to excellent condition. It is unsigned, but we believe this was Hopi made, however cannot verify that. This amazing sculpture was obtained at a recent Scottsdale Arizona sale and the artist was unknown. A sculpture of this size that is unsigned is typically meant to stay in the family of the artisan. It is a symbolic reminder to the family not be selfish and greedy or take life too seriously as the Koshare Clown represents glutton and over-indulgence of all things. No matter where you put this huge vintage Koshare Clown clay kachina doll sculpture, it will be the ultimate conversation piece! This is a spectacular piece of Native American artwork that will be the focal point of any home or office! ** Koshare, Koyala, Hano, or Tewa are the names of a clown that is often seen on the Hopi Mesas. Clown Kachinas provide amusement during Kachina ceremonies. Often shown with watermelons, they behave in the usual manner of pueblo clowns, engaging in loud and boisterous conversation, immoderate actions, and gluttony. They are often drummers for dances. In the Hopi tradition, the Sacred Clown Kachina frequently disrupts and makes a holy mess out of some of the most vital and fundamental rituals. The clown satirizes Hopi life by acting out and exaggerating improper behavior. Many times the actions of the clowns are meant to portray a lesson on behavior apparent in a tribal member. Their purpose is to show how overdoing anything is bad not only for the individual but for the people as a whole as well. Koshare plays tricks, acts out absurd pantomimes, or cleverly mimics spectators. Like the more serious Kachinas, but in a humorous way, the clown helps maintain community harmony by reminding the people of acceptable standards of behavior within the Hopi community. ** We have many years of experience in shipping and handling delicate artwork and artifacts, so we can assure you that your item will be well packed for shipping. (We would be happy to consider reasonable offers or quote a package price if you purchase two or more kachina dolls. Just email us on the ones you are interested in!) Thanks for looking and be sure to check out my store for more selections of authentic Native American arts and collectibles! We offer a large selection of the highest quality hand carved kachinas made by the most elite and famous carvers of each respective tribe! If you like our products, please add me to your FAVORITES list or consider subscribing to our newsletter for updates on newly listed items, sales and special promotions. We would be happy to consider reasonable offers! Statement of Authenticity: We fell in love with Native American jewelry many years ago and really appreciate the true craftsmanship that goes into the making of a piece of genuine Native American jewelry art! That is why we chose to partner up with some of the oldest and most reputable Trading Posts in the Southwest who deal directly with the Native American artisans to bring you a large selection of authentic Native American products. These artisans come from the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and affiliate tribes on the reservations, so you can be assured that all our Native American products are authentic! (Please Note: We sell new items as well as old pawn that were handmade by authentic Native American artisans. Most of our old pawn items are One-of-a-Kind and subject to availability. Some of our new items can be re-produced and therefore may have some slight variances from the pictures. We do sell on other venues as well as occasional trade shows and reserve the right to cancel this listing if sold prior to any bids or offers. We try to keep our listings up to date, but may occasionally miss one. We highly recommend that you email us to verify stock so as not to disappoint. If unavailable, we will email you and offer an alternate item or a refund if payment had been made. In some cases, we can have one custom made with a two week lead time.) (We try our best to present the item as accurately as possible, but due to the effects of photo lighting, camera settings or computer monitor settings, the actual color may vary slightly than pictured.) We strive to be a 5-star seller and endeavor to provide the best customer service possible. If you should have any issues with your items, please email us directly so that we can fix the problems to your satisfaction. Thank you and God Bless! ID:10TD0003UHAT Payment Terms Payment is due within 2 days of auction end or purchase date. We accept most major credit cards through our Paypal account. If you don't have or want a Paypal account, you can pay as "guest" in the Paypal site. Shipping Terms Item will ship within 7-10 business days of cleared payment. We ship via USPS to confirmed addresses only. Any customized orders will require an extra 10 days for actual shipment. Shipping costs include postage, packaging, insurance and delivery confirmation. Insurance is provided through a third party insurer. Please allow up to 10 days for transit time, depending on your location.