Phillip Sekaquaptewa
Overview
Phillip Sekaquaptewa (1948–2003) was a Hopi silversmith active from the 1970s, working contemporary and traditional styles — overlay and combined styles in silver, turquoise and wood. A multiple award winner, he worked from his Weseoma Studio.
He was the son of Wayne Sekaquaptewa: Wayne Sekaquaptewa's entry states 'Father of Phillip Sekaquaptewa', which fixes it. His marks moved from a bird track in the 1970s to PS in the 1980s, and Weseoma in script, which may appear with a tadpole.
The Mark
"Phillip Sekaquaptewa (1948-2003; Hopi). Active since 1970s. Contemporary and traditional styles; overlay; combines multiple styles; silver, turquoise, wood. Multiple award winner. His studio was Weseoma Studio. Son of Wayne Sekaquaptewa. Marks: Bird track (1970s); P S (in 1980s); Weseoma (script; may be with a tadpole; Weseoma is the Hopi word for tadpole)"
— Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. (2022), p. 282.
The mark as documented in Hougart's hallmark reference: Bird track (1970s); PS (in the 1980s); Weseoma (script; may be with a tadpole).
References
- Hougart, Bille. Native American and Southwestern Silver Hallmarks, 5th ed. Washington, DC: BilleHougartBooks, 2022.
- Wright, Margaret Nickelson. Hopi Silver: The History and Hallmarks of Hopi Silversmithing. Revised edition. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2003. Originally published by Northland Publishing. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2003.
- Bassman, Theda. The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry. Photography by Gene Balzer. Walnut, California: Kiva Publishing, 1993. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1993.
- Manley, Ray. Ray Manley's Collecting Southwestern Indian Arts & Crafts. Text by Clara Lee Tanner and others; photography by Naurice Koonce, Ray Manley and Alan Manley. Tucson: Ray Manley Photography, 1979. Includes Clara Lee Tanner, "Southwest Indian Silverwork," pp. 39–41. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 1979.
- Schaaf, Gregory, with Angie Yan Schaaf. American Indian Jewelry I: 1,200 Artist Biographies, ca. 1800-present. American Indian Art Series, Vol. 5. Santa Fe: CIAC Press, 2003. Cited by printed page. Statements describe conditions as of 2003.
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From the Library: Wright, Hopi Silver (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
According to Wright (2003, p. 88), Phillip Sekaquaptewa of Hotevilla began silverwork in 1973 after learning at Hopicrafts, his father Wayne's shop; the listing records his death year as 2002 and shows a script-signature mark dated 1980. [1]
According to Wright (2003, p. 81), his father, Wayne Sekaquaptewa, and Wayne's brother Emory, of the Eagle clan at Hotevilla, began silverwork in 1960 after learning from Harry Sakyesva; they owned and managed Hopi Enterprises, later the Hopicrafts shop, which made silverwork as well as selling it wholesale and retail. They shared a mark labelled 'Sekaquaptewa', and the listing records Wayne's death in 1979. [1]
From the Library: Bassman, The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry (1993)
1993 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1993, not today.
Bassman (1993) pictured a 1992 ring of his:
“Upper ring of water symbols with garnet stone made in 1992 by Phillip Sekaquaptewa.”
— Bassman (1993), p. 21 [2]
Bassman (1993, p. 39) pictured a necklace of pink coral, azurite and variscite strung on coral, lapis lazuli, chrysocolla and azurite beads made in 1990 by Phillip Sekaquaptewa, and a lapis lazuli pendant and matching ring he made in 1991. [2]
Bassman (1993, p. 47) pictured a three-strand necklace of lapis lazuli, pink coral and fresh water pearl made in 1992 by Phillip Sekaquaptewa, and a gold-on-silver bracelet with petroglyph figures, lapis lazuli and cocoa bolo wood made in 1993. [2]
From the Library: Manley, Collecting Southwestern Indian Arts & Crafts (1979)
1979 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 1979, not today.
A 1979 caption in Ray Manley's Collecting Southwestern Indian Arts & Crafts on a group of his Hopi overlay pieces:
“Rather unusual is this abundance of settings in Hopi overlay silver. The pendant effectively combines an age-old tribal bird theme with coral.”
— Manley (1979), p. 44 [3]
The same caption notes overlay masks combined with turquoise in a bracelet and a bola tie and a double bear paw motif on a buckle, and credits the group to Phillip Sekaquaptewa (Manley 1979, p. 44). [3]
From the Library: Schaaf, American Indian Jewelry I (2003)
2003 primary source. Anything described as current here describes 2003, not today.
Schaaf (2003, p. 128) named Phillip Sekaquaptewa, with Emory Holmes and Hopicrafts, among the teachers of the Hopi overlay smith Ramon Dalangyawma, Jr., born in 1954. [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 136) named Phillip Sekaquaptewa as the teacher of Reginald Dewakuku, a silver overlay smith at Shipaulovi active from about 1990. [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 180) named Phil Sekaquaptewa, Emery Holmes and Honani Crafts as the teachers of the Hopi overlay smith Cleve Honyaktewa, active from 1983 to 1996. [4]
Schaaf (2003) entered him as
“Phil Sekaquaptewa (Phillip Sequaptewa), (hallmark - eagle track, PS, ca. 1971-81; tadpole, after 1981; Waseoma & tadpole hallmark - present)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 284 [4]
Schaaf (2003, p. 284) recorded Phillip Sekaquaptewa as Hopi of Hotevilla, married into Lower Shipaulovi, active from about 1973 in gold and silver overlay, appliqué and tufa-cast jewelry, a son of Wayne Sekaquaptewa, with first and second prizes at Indian Market in 1974 and 1976. [4]
Schaaf's 2003 hallmark index gives PS to two makers:
“PS (Phillip Sekaquaptewa, Patrick Smith)”
— Schaaf (2003), p. 276 [4]
Field Notes by Mateo James
Hougart's hallmark entry, which this page follows, gives 2003 as Phillip's death year, while Wright's 2003 listing records d. 2002. I have no third source to settle it, so both years stand as printed.
This profile is maintained in support of Native American silversmiths and compiled from published references. See something inaccurate, or want to add to it? Contact us.
Name card shown; hallmark photo to come.
I notice the books date his marks differently. Hougart has a bird track in the 1970s and PS in the 1980s, while Schaaf's 2003 register puts the eagle track and PS together in about 1971 to 1981 and a tadpole after 1981. I show both as printed.