The eagle's body is carved, by hand, from a massive piece of translucent alabaster in hues of sunset clouds. Throughout there is a bit of crystalin sparkle and a ribbon of blue green to blue gray capping the wing shoulders on both sides.
Selected and cut for its variants, Mr. Abeita created the lighter beak and chest as well as highlights long the wings. The eyes are inlaid with brightly polished jet. An arrow of jet decorates each cheek. The right one is banded with malachite and jell sugelite. The last has a band of gold lip shell and another sugelite.
There is an offering bundle, tied with sinew, to this noble bird's body. It contains a variety of shells and stones, securing a piece of argilite simply cut to the tapered form of an arrow or spear point. What resembles a butterfly of the same material seems to float, secured to the left wing under the bundle binding.
Description | The eagle's body is carved, by hand, from a massive piece of translucent alabaster in hues of sunset clouds. Throughout there is a bit of crystalin sparkle and a ribbon of blue green to blue gray capping the wing shoulders on both sides. Selected and cut for its variants, Mr. Abeita created the lighter beak and chest as well as highlights long the wings. The eyes are inlaid with brightly polished jet. An arrow of jet decorates each cheek. The right one is banded with malachite and jell sugelite. The last has a band of gold lip shell and another sugelite. There is an offering bundle, tied with sinew, to this noble bird's body. It contains a variety of shells and stones, securing a piece of argilite simply cut to the tapered form of an arrow or spear point. What resembles a butterfly of the same material seems to float, secured to the left wing under the bundle binding. |
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About the Artist | Andy Abeita is a recognized carver of stone fetishes with exceptional inlay from Isleta pueblo. One of the artist's bear carvings created in 1987 is in the permanent collection of the Museum of the American Indian. https://americanindian.si.edu/collections-search/object/NMAI_272678 |
Culture | American Indian |
Style | Stylization |
Medium | Alabaster, jet, malachite, sugelite, gold lip shell, argillite, sinew, shells |
Size | Beak to tail horizontally 5 1/2", diagonally head to tail is 7". Height is 4 5/8". Width is 1 3/8" without attached shells. With shell width is 2 1/4". |
Signed | Incised marked under feet |
Date of creation | Late 20th century |
Condition | Perfect |
Description | A symbol of great power, the eagle is revered by all Native American people, for their amazing sight and afinity for flight among the clouds. Their feathers are used in a variety of healing ceremonies. In fetish form the eagle is guardian. This one handsomely glows with the changing light of the vast heavens it inhabits with grace and ease. |
Provenance | CP |