Wilson Tawaquaptewa - Rare Matched Pair

Buffalo Barry's Indian Art

Excellent matched pair of carvings by the renowned Wilson Tawaquaptewa (1873-1960). These were clearly made at the same time. The paints are the same, as is the general size, and carving style. The long-eared example is 7″ tall and 3″ wide. It has lots of his signature polka dots. The wide-eared carving is 6″ tall and 3 1/8″ wide. These belong together.

As I have written many times, Tawaquapatewa was unique in the history of katsina carving in that he never made an accurate rendition of a katsina figure. He was Kikmongwi or Village Chief of the Hopi village of Orayvi and because of his significant religious role, he felt that accurate renditions should not be sold. As a result, he either “made up” his figures or “mixed up” components from real katsinam. See my chapter on him in “The Great Tradition of Hopi Katsina Carvers – 1880-Present,” (2019, Rio Nuevo Publishers). The carvings have some old collection tags on the bottom of their feet. 

$11,000.00

Artwork details