Native Arts: Sculpture Sale — 25% Off! Animal Spirits

"Taos Pueblo Mountain Trout" by Ned Archuleta.
Photo copyright Ajijaakwe, 2013, 2014; all rights reserved.

All of these pieces are by Ned Archuleta (Taos Pueblo). Ned is known for working mostly in alabaster, and he's particularly fond of pink alabaster, mined in Colorado. Although these four pieces look genuinely "pink," that's not always the case with this stone; he often chooses blocks that are nearly taupe in color, sometimes with a blood-red matrix. He's also known for working with the stone, rather than against it, allowing the stone's natural lines and spirit to dictate how a piece takes shape.

Up first: "Taos Pueblo Mountain Trout." Pink alabaster on pink alabaster base. If you look closely, you can see the flowing lines of the matrix in the cool, silky stone,giving the appearance of scales and fins. SC031; retail, $375; sale price, $281.25 + s/h/i. Note: Requires special handling.

Buffalo by Ned Archuleta.
Photo copyright Ajijaakwe, 2013, 2014; all rights reserved.

Next, an untitled rendering of a buffalo, also in pink alabaster. The back of the body and the face are polished smooth; the head, shoulders, and forelegs are roughened to reflect Buffalo's curly mane. The horns are carved of polished deep-red pipestone. SC028; retail, $375; sale price, $281.25 + s/h/i. Note: Requires special handling.

Medicine Bear by Ned Archuleta.
Photo copyright Ajijaakwe, 2013, 2014; all rights reserved.

This piece (and the next) are much smaller, almost — but not quite — small enough to be considered fetishes (a little under 4" long). This little guy is a furry medicine bear: the hair of his coat is carved right into his body. This piece really shows the variability of pink alabaster: All of one small block of stone, his face is nearly white, but from the ears back his body shows varying shades of rose, almost purple, in the stone's matrix. Inlaid bits of Sleeping Beauty turquoise serve as his eyes, and his medicine bundle, tied on with the traditional sinew, is of turquoise and coral beads. SC040; retail, $125; sale price, $93.75 + s/h/i.

"Beaver" by Ned Archuleta.
Photo copyright Ajijaakwe, 2013, 2014; all rights reserved.

Lastly, for this series, "Beaver." Again, this little guy is "furry," with his coat etched into the pink alabaster stone; in this case, it contains beautiful, variable matrices. His broad, flat tail has the cross-hatching carved right into it; two tiny pieces of Sleeping Beauty turquoise form his eyes. SC039; retail, $125; sale price, $93.75 + s/h/i.

Copyright Ajijaakwe, 2014; all rights reserved.