Exceptionally Large Tawaquaptewa Figure

Buffalo Barry's Indian Art

This is the largest carving by Wilson Tawaquaptewa (1873-1960) that I’ve had. It is 16″ tall and 5 1/2″ wide. The professional base adds 1 3/8″. In fact, this is the largest Tawaquaptewa I’ve seen anywhere except for the astounding 33″ example in the Heard Museum collection. It resembles a Mongwu or Great Horned Owl, but as with all his carvings, he deliberately distorted it due to his religious conviction that accurate representations should not be sold. The distortions include what I call the “barbed wire motif” body paint. Someone else has referred to this paint design as resembling dragon flies, which is an interesting alternative take.  I've written many pieces on Tawaquaptewa. See our chapter in "The Great Tradition of Hopi Katsina Carvers, 1880 - Present." 

$19,000.00

Artwork details