Native American Pottery

Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally

Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally

Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally
A sculpture of a Hopi ceremony with four clowns, on a tree root. Date:Circa late 20th century. Measurements of tree: 12" tall x 4" deep x 20 wide. Extra Notes: The sculpture is of the Hopi Native American tribe. Koyemsi/Koshari is of the Hopi Nation. Koyemsi are mudhead clowns; Koshari are clowns. The most familiar clowns, the Koshari, part of the "Pai'yakyamu" group are common to the Rio Grande Pueblos.

They were introduced to the Hopi at the time of migration of the Tewa people to First Mesa where they established the village of Hano. The Koyemsi, commonly called the Mud-Head are widely known and easily identified since their body is covered with earth-colored clay and their heads are covered with a buckskin masks stained with the same earth- colored pigment.

Several knobs or sometimes sausage-like projections decorate their masks. The Koyemsi descend from the Zuni, and at Hopi, serve many functions beyond those considered as clowning.

The most highly valued Koyesmi/Koshari are the very tall single clowns. This sculpture on a tree root is unique, interesting, educational and very well crafted. Native American tribes are actually many different cultures. So, there are different types of Native American clowns. The Cheyenne, Hopi, the Nuu-Chau-Nulth Natives and the Kuakwaks Tribes of Vancouver Island. Clowning goes back several centuries, it predates the first contact between the Native tribes and explorers from Europe. Among others uses, the clowns are used to represent historical events and things in nature, and are used to educate children in the ways of life. David Benally is of Thunderbird Lodge which is in Arizona (Canyon de Chelly).

The Benally family are artists: Ernest is a jeweler, Kee Joe Benally is a potter, his wife, Veronica is a jeweler. The Benally family is large with many of the family members being jewelers, some of the family are musicians. The family is Navajo; the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni do share multiple cultures with one another in many aspects.

The item "Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally" is in sale since Friday, August 07, 2015. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\Native American\ US\1935-Now\Pottery". The seller is "mkestatefinds" and is located in Cockeysville, Maryland.

This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Russian federation, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion.

  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Artisan: Donald Benally
  • Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
  • Excellent Condition - No Chips: Very Rare Vintage Piece
  • Date: 1958


Mudhead Tree Native American Donald Benally