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"Medicine Man" by Erla Graham, is a large doll or a carving unique in it's category. Given extreme attention to detailing, Erla has carved the figure and created the costumes and decorated them. The Medicine Man is dancing, wearing a real buffalo skin headress and is holding a real Ermin that is fully beaded. The carved figure stands 23 inches tall.
Peyote Prayer Fan- These beautiful American arts and crafts fans are used during dances and at Pow Wow's. Pheasant feathers, seed beads, white deer hide and string is used to create these fans, they also make great objects of art to hang on the wall. Measures 25 inches long and varies in width depending on whether the fan is open or closed.
"Petroglyph People" by gourd artist of New Mexico, Robert Rivera. This wall piece is a colorful Shaman that has lots of character and plenty of objects that give him spiritual power. There are feathers, turtle shells, horse hair, bones and shells and beads. Measuring 45 inches by 57 inches.
Hand made knife, sheath and stand are all include for displaying this detailed work of art. The antler knife is inlaid with turquoise and coral. The sheath is leather dyed and has hand lacing with deer skin. This is a fantastic work of art, the perfect gift for the collector.
Woodlands Plains Indian Tobacco Pouch- Tanned hide is beautifully beaded. Measuring 5 by 7 inches.
Ray Gallegos and his family of Cochiti Pueblo in New Mexico, make beautiful cottonwood drums by hand. We carry all sorts of sizes, from 10 inches to 100 inches and they are available for shipping. People use them as musical instruments and for displaying their art. Please call for other available sizes and to get a shipping quote.
Functional and decorative describes Robert Rivera's Rattles. Beautiful on the wall, and a musical instrument when you shake them. The dried seeds of the gourd rattle inside, the outside is painted on the natural background of the gourd. The turtle has a snake skin shell and sterling and turquoise button.
Sometimes amazing things happen in the course of a day at Toh-Atin Gallery. For the past several months, we have been selling a selection of outstanding Native American artwork, including jewelry, rugs, pots and Kachinas that was the property of Catherine Katona. Catherine was a famous dealer in Santa Fe for over twenty years, and her shop on the Plaza, The Kiva, was known by collectors from around the world. Catherine passed away about eight years ago, and we were selected this spring to sell her collection. Among the unusual pieces in the collection was a large Ogre Kachina (or Katsina, which ever you prefer) doll that stands 38 inches tall, including the feathers. Not your typical doll! This was the name that Catherine used to refer to this carving made from the traditional cottonwood root. It must have been a big tree! We never knew why and had no idea if the doll was actually carved by a Hopi. In fact, we were a little nervous about referring to "Big George" as a Kachina. Then one of our favorite carvers, Chester Polyestewa, walked into the gallery with some of his dolls and said, "So that's what happened to Emil's doll." When asked to explain, Chester told us that in 1963 he was going to the Hopi Shalako dance and stopped by Third Mesa to get Emil Pooley to go with him. Emil was carving this large Ogre. Chester said that Emil told him he only carved the one, and it was for Catherine Katona. "How did he remember it was 1963?" we asked. He explained that unlike the Zuni, who have a Shalako Dance every December, the Hopi space theirs out with many years in between. It is held only for initiating members to the clans. He remembers because 1963 was the year they held it, and it was important to attend. Did he know why the name "Big George" was associated with the doll? "Emil had a son named George, and he named the doll after him in a joking way." So, there you have it. Another mystery solved. Emil Pooley was a Hopi carver from Third Mesa who died in 1980. "Big George" now means a lot more to us. He's looking for a new, permanent home, and at $4,000.00, he's a value! Give us a call and we can talk about the adoption process.
These children's Cree Tribe moccasins are made of leather and decorated with rabbit fur and handdone beadwork.
This elk hide saddle throw was sewn with sinew and decorated with seed beads. It was remade into a saddle throw, originally we believe it was a woman's robe as you can see painted designs on the under side and among some of the fringe. It dates from about 1900 to the 1920's.
This is an amazing piece of bead-work, and a wonderful example of Plains Indians history and their abilities for not wasting a single usable piece of anything. This piece would make an excellent addition to a collection, or simply as an addition to your home's decor. This piece comes with a museum quality armature to display it on that can be adjusted to hang on a wall or be free-standing.
