Hopi Piggyback Koyemsi (Mudhead) Katsinas by Otto Pentewa [SOLD]

Between 1975 and 1990, I made trips to the Hopi villages every two weeks for the purpose of purchasing katsina dolls, pottery, and baskets for resale. One of my favorite carvers was Richard Pentewa. I liked his carvings and I particularly enjoyed sitting in his living room and visiting with him.

Every time I would go to Richard’s home, I could see this large piggyback Mudhead sitting on a table in a side room. On numerous occasions over about three years, I asked Richard if he wanted to sell it. His answer was always that he wanted to keep it because his dad, Otto Pentewa, had carved it. Finally, I quit asking if it was for sale.

One day, without my asking, he offered to sell it to me. At first, I thought he was kidding me, because he was a jokester, but I soon realized that the time had come, for whatever reason, for him to let it go. I purchased it at that time, which was around 1976.

I very soon let a client talk me out of it and I sold it to her. Fortunately, she moved from Albuquerque about 3 years later and offered to sell it back to me. I jumped at the chance. I have had it in my collection since that time.

As far as I know, this is the largest katsina that Otto ever carved. I know of no other.

—It was published in American Indian Art Magazine in Summer 2001, Vol. 26, #3, p. 69.
—It is also published in Hopi Katsina: 1,600 Artist Biographies (see details below) on page 240.

Provenance: Piggyback Koyemsi (Mudhead) Katsinas was shown in the exhibit OLD PUEBLO KATSINA DOLLS August 7, 2006 until August 24, 2006 presented at adobe gallery Santa fe.