Hopi Paiyatam (Red-Striped) Clown, circa 1940 [SOLD]

The Hopi Clownss—and there are a variety of them—inhabit both the Underworld of the Hopi and the normal world. As inhabitants of both, they are the caretakers of the katsinas. They announce their arrival at ceremonies, care for their appearance as they dance, and serve as interpreters between two worlds.

The clowns have these serious ceremonial functions and, at the same time, serve to entertain and teach the Hopi. Their humor, however, is designed to ridicule unseemly actions and to bring about good behavior of the Hopi by presenting life as it should not be. Personal ridicule of Hopi is fair game, as is ridicule of white visitors. No one is exempt.

The Paiyatam Clowns have a red line stretching across the eyes from ear to ear; have feathers or rabbit fur for ears, and a red line stretched across the mouth. This is where their name “Red Striped Clown” derives.

This carving is in excellent condition. Some of the black paint has worn away but there is no damage to the carving itself. It is a one-piece carving from a single cottonwood root.