This fabulous large fetish carving was carved from
turquoise by master Zuni carver Herbert Him, Sr. He has carved
a mother bear and her two cubs, the mother catching a fish while
the two babies play. The mother bear measures 4 inches in length
by 2 inches in height and the cubs measure 1 1/4 inches by 1 inch
and 2 inches by 1 3/8 inches. the mother holds a fish carved from
abalone shell and all of the bears have eyes made of red coral.
The entire carving measures 5 inches by 2 inches in height by
2 inches in width. Bear is the guardian of the West and he represents
strength and self-knowledge. Bear is a spiritual guide and he
also carries within him supernatural powers. Bear is believed
to have great healing powers. Bear is considered the most powerful
of all of the animals.
-Badger on Dwellings-
Material:
Picasso Marble
inlayed with Turquoise eyes
Bear Fishing W/Salmon
Herbert Him LARGE BEAUTIFUL Turquoise Bear. 5"
x 2 1/2" x 3". Inlayed Coral Eyes.
These dancing bears are carved from chocolate serpentine
and have blue turquoise eyes. Herbert has rendered these bears
in extreme realistic detail. The head and paws, and claws are
very realistically carved. The bear is 4 1/4" tall, 2 1/4"
wide, and 1 3/4" deep.
"Billy, Dancin' with Deb"
HERBERT HIM
Herbert is approximately 45+ years old now and what
most collectors would consider a master, he has carved almost
every type of animal, and alot of different subject matters. He
started carving alabaster, and moved on to many different materials
such as turquoise, jet, Lapis, Pipestone, marble, Shell and a
stone called Picasso marble, Picasso is a limestone conglomerate,
comes in black, gray brown some yellow. This stone (Picasso Marble)
is one of Herbert's favorite materials to carve because of the
hardness and color. Herbert has been carving for about 15 to 16
years.
His father was a civil engineer and passed away when
Herbert was 11 years old, his mother has made jewelry most of
her life, and gave birth to seven children. When he was young
he traveled around the United States exploring and discovering
different aspects of to be or not to be, the question that we
all confront sooner or later. Coming back to New Mexico his heart
and an instinct told him the art world was the path that he was
to pursue. This path took him to the Institute of American Indian
arts. He attended school from 1969 to 1974. He studied painting,
the art of making jewelry and sculpturing, along the journey he
met a gentleman by the name of Allen Hauser the world-renowned
human being, carver and gentleman. Mr. Hauser was nephew to Geronimo
who was a Chiricahua Apache. Mr. Hauser seemed to have a way with
everything he ever crafted. When these two came together it definitely
was a union that was meant to be. Allen expressed to everyone
the importance of the heart and soul in any project that he encountered
or took on. Herbert's work has taken the contemporary and mixed
it with the traditional which gives us an extraordinary mix. He
mentioned Mr. Hauser said to always have pride in your work, this
ethic seem to stick with Herbert all through his carving career.
Every carving I have ever seen, he has been very proud of and
put as much heart and soul as possible into it. Another lesson
learned from Mr. Hauser was the extraordinary ability to capture
muscle tone and definition of any animal that he decided to carve;
he attributes this relationship with his work to Mr. Hauser and
his expression of how the artist must develop this form of expression
in his work.
Herbert Him really enjoys his work and it shows in
each and every piece.
