Picasso Marble Eagle Dancer With Bear Protecting The Village by Herbert Him

A prominent dark gray, dark tan and black veined Picasso marble eagle dancer protecting the village along with a bear - carved from the same stone by Herbert Him. Herbert has inlaid eyes on the bear and the eagle mask then only added the facial contours to depict where the dancer's eyes, nose and mouth are. The dancer wears a necklace with four dots inlaid with a turquoise pigment. There are lines incised all over the bear's body to depict fur and incised wing rows on the front of the dancer's headdress. On the back side - the walls of the village are incised between the dancer's headdress with a ladder at the top carved in high relief. The eagle dance is meant to represent and replicate the movements of an eagle when it is flying or hunting and also depicting an eagle's life from birth to death. Most tribes venerate the eagle with dances due to the eagle's ability to soar between heaven and earth. Native American tribes believe that eagles have supernatural powers; the ability to carry messages to god, and the ability to control weather such as rain. The Zuni believe the bear is endowed with curative powers, strength, adaptability and courage - powers that can influence both the spiritual and physical realm. Artist: Herbert Him (signed) Size: 2-1/4 in. wide x 1-5/8 in. deeo x 3 in. tall #63875