Otto Pentewa Sipiknitaqa or Guard

Otto Pentewa (1880s-1961) was one of the most important Hopi katsina carvers in history. He was the second after Tawaquaptewa to create distinctively identifiable work. As I’ve written previously, Otto had a wide range as a katsina artist. Some of this work is very elaborate and finely done; other examples are simple and seemingly deliberately funky. This Sipiknitaqa falls in the funky category, simply carved and painted, with a quirky personality. As noted by Alph Seckuku, “Sipiknitaqa is a Whipper katsina guard who performs security functions during the katsina rituals…” Accordingly, this example has yucca whips in both hands, one of which is raised in warning. Good sized at 12″ tall by 5 1/2″ wide. From the 1930s or 40s.