Hopi Kokopellmana Puppet Katsina by Jimmy Koots [SOLD]

According to Barton Wright, Kokopellmana is one of the few female racers.  She portrays the erotic female counterpart of Kokopelli, the Hump-backed Flute Player.  She will induce someone to run against “her” and then hoist her skirts and overtake him.  She flings him to the ground and imitates copulation with him to the amusement of the audience and the complete discomfort of the loser.

This puppet was made by Jimmy Koots, a Hopi whose work was well known in Santa Fe because he provided Katsina dolls to Rare Gifts by Dutton, probably one of the more famous older Santa Fe shops.

The arms and legs were attached by passing rawhide through the body, attaching the limbs.

Note: Henry Seeni also made puppet Katsina dolls in the early 1950s, but the work of the two men can be distinguished by the body style, particularly in the hips where the legs are attached.

Condition: The Hopi Kokopellmana Puppet Katsina by Jimmy Koots is in excellent condition with minor abrasion to the paint

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Oregon

Reference Material:  Hopi Katsina 1,600 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

Jimmie Kootshongsie photo courtesy of Gregory Schaaf.  Photo reference: Hopi Katsina: 1,600 Artist Biographies by Gregory and Angie Schaaf.

Relative Links: Jimmy Koots, Hopi Pueblo, Katsina Doll, Henry Seeni, Barton Wright