|
|
Leekya Deyuse
|
|
The Leekya Deyuse Mudhead Bracelet above and
all Leekya fetishes
on these pages are Sold
Most experts consider Leekya Deyuse to be the father of
Southwest jewelry as we see it today. It was CG Wallace, along with Leekya
and a few other Zuni artists, that created what we now call Southwest
jewelry.
This
exceedingly rare,
undiscovered Leekya Deyuse treasure is for sale.
The Mudhead is a sacred Zuni religious icon. This Leekya Deyuse Turquoise
Mudhead Bracelet was probably created during the 1940's or 1950". Mudheads
are not made for commerce but are ceremonial pieces.
I have never seen other, even remotely like it, in any museum or book.
|
Art courtesy
of Treasure Chest books
and Oscar T. Branson
The first 2 photos below (gray) are of
human figures made by Leekya Deyuse.
They were sold at the 1975 Sotheby's, CG Wallace Sale. These 2 photographs
are from that auction catalogue. There were a few other photos
that were similar but all had this general feeling.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The photo above is from the Oscar Branson book,
Zuni Fetishes of the Southwest. It is an assembly of human figures
carved by Leekya, Teddy Weahkee and Leo Pablano.
Such reference photos are extremely important.
How else would
anyone identify and authenticate new discoveries? Not all
important art is in museums or has
been photographed!
Frankly,
more and better Leekya (and other masterpieces)
are in the hands
of private collectors then museums.
The first gray figure pictured above was lot # 768 and is described in
the Sotheby catalogue this way, "Zuni Turquoise Figure, Pale
green turquoise standing male figure with coral earrings
and inlaid jet eyes,"
|
|
The turquoise in this Mudhead and the jet
inlay in the eye of this
Mudhead fit the description of Sotheby's Lot #768 above.
Further, there were very few man
capable of this level of carving
and Leekya Deyuse's touch is legend.
|
|
|
|
This Mudhead is carved from one piece of pale, blue green
turquoise. The Mudhead is a creation figure. A human profile
seems to appear Mudheads face??
Also, notice the scarf around Mudhead. This is
the
proper adornment for a Mudhead.
|
|
|
|
There are 3 marks on the back of the bracelet.
I can find no reference in any book about the two
hallmarks in the
middle of the bracelet... which I believe were added well after
the bracelet was made.
However, the hallmark on the right is a
hammered V which
Barton Wright identifies as Leekya. This mark also appears
on the bottom of the Mudhead carving.
The face of the bracelet is 3" across. Inlaid
around the
Mudhead is Mother of Pearl, Jet and Turquoise. The Mother
of Pearl
glows iridescent gold, blue white and reds.
It is made for a 7" wrist and can be adjusted slightly.
The Zuni colors for the 6 directions are
Yellow, White,
Red, Blue, Black, and Multi Color.
This is clearly a prize for any Collector.
Bargain Priced at
$22,250
SOLD
Please call Sedonawolf directly
to discuss this Leekya bracelet
and its purchase 800 462 8536
<><><>
|
This Leekya hand sold in 2000 for $29,750.
It was sold by Jon Bonnell, the White Hogan in Scottsdale.
Scroll down for the entire story and more images.
Notice this Leekya carving, which is from the
Wallace
Sotheby sale is carved from the same turquoise
as the Mudhead.
<><><>
|
|
|
|
|
Rare Leekya Deyuse hand carved 3 strand shell bird necklace.
This Leekya Deyuse necklace is 25" long. There are 42 bird fetishes.
All are hand
made with Swiss watchmaker files from assorted shells
and then strung on 3 strands of handmade Santo Domingo
Olive Shell Heishe.
It is most likely from the 1950's and in excellent condition.
Over the years the silver findings garnered
a light, satin patina.
Few Leekya's necklaces exist, most are in
Museum collections.
$10,450 (Sold)
Leekya Deyuse Carved Animal Fetish Necklace
See or entire Zuni fetish necklace Collection
<><><>
The following material is published by Sedonawolf as a collector's resource.
|
Leekya Deyuse
Seen above are two Leekya Deyuse fetishes, a hunting wolf and
bear (sold)
< The wolf was a gift from Francis Leekya and is not for sale >
I am fascinated by the debate over exactly what is a Zuni fetish.
Over the difference between a Zuni fetish sold here (and elsewhere) and
a fetish used by Zuni people in their daily lives.
Perhaps my re-telling you the story of this beautiful hunting wolf
(as told to me by Francis and Hayes
Leekya) will help resolve the
issue.
I tell you this story with the permission of Francis and Hayes.
The wolf was in the Francis Leekya family for well over 60 years.
It was used to hunt game and was blessed by Zuni priests numerous times.
The
arrowhead tied to the wolf was found on the Zuni Reservation
after a lightning storm. It is believed that lightning rains arrowheads
to earth and they are most sacred.
Before a hunt, prayers and rituals are said to insure
success.
When the hunt begins, the wolf is carried in the field. Wolf's mission
is
to herd deer, elk, or other game before the hunter... presenting him an
opportunity for a kill. A large deer or elk can feed
a Zuni family for many weeks.
The wolf fetish will also protect its owner from harm.
When the game animal is slain the arrowhead you see tied to the wolf's neck
is symbolically drawn across the animal where it will be
skinned and butchered.
When the entrails
of the dead animal are removed the fetish is rewarded
and placed in them to eat
When the fetish is not hunting, it is kept near by and feed small pieces of
bread
and water.
When the bread is stale it is thrown away outdoors
and new bread is placed before the fetish.
So, what is a Zuni fetish?? It does not look any different to those seen
on our pages. Perhaps it's in the blessing??
But then, I recall Thelma Sheche telling us she and her family
pray over the stone before they begin carving. It would not surprise
me
to learn that other carvers do that as well. The Sheche's pray that
their fetishes
will do good in the hands of someone they can help.
If you subscribe to the idea that God (the Creator, the One) is in us and
all around us, then the fetishes you have (or get in the future)
are the same as those used in Zuni - treat them kindly.
If, on the other hand you see these carvings as small, heartfelt
works of art, then that is exactly what they are.
|
|
|
Art or Fetish Concretion??
Are lightning strikes creating the bear on
the dark green side of this carving?? Is that a face watching
the bear come to life.
The Serpentine Bear carries a Purple Mussel Shell arrowhead
and another arrowhead of Morenci Turquoise atop that.
I find it
interesting that despite the passing
of 50 or 60 years, this fetish survives. it
apparently was held in high esteem
by all who came across it.
3" long
$5,950 (sold)
<><><>
|
|
Leekya Deyuse fetishes are at the top of the
Zuni fetish Collector list.
While the
future value of anything can not be guaranteed,
I
believe that Leekya Deyuse's work has stood the test of time
and will always be treasured and continue to escalate in value
(as it has for the past 30 years)
The fetish is made of Serpentine and measures 2 1/2" long.
<><><>
|
|
|
|
Discovered with the fetish above, in the private collection of an old time
Arizona Indian Trader, was this 2nd Leekya Deyuse wolf or coyote.
It
appears they were carved as a pair, or at the very least at the same time.
The stone is similar as is the offering bundle.
This fetishes are clearly the work of Leekya
Deyuse.
A glance through the 1976 Oscar Branson book,
Fetishes and Carvings of the Southwest, will dispel
any doubt to that fact.
The fetishes are made of Ricolite Serpentine.
While we often see Ricolite in Zuni carvings now,
it was rare back then.
Leekya usually carved his fetishes in Zuni Rock, a
local travertine he mined
(sold June 2002)
|
|
The two
photo's above (Leekya & Mrs. Deyuse)
were provided to Sedonawolf by
Francis
Leekya
Francis Leekya (a great Zuni carver in his
own right) tells
the story of how late in his father's life, Leekya (like Francis)
carved with one hand. An interesting coincidence, considering
how parallel were the lives of father and son.
|
A young Leekya Deyuse from the CG Wallace collection.
That period
after the turn of the century,
when the great migration
west began. Settler's,
tourists, and business people moved across
the west. CG Wallace
saw an opportunity and introduced
Indian Art to a public eager to own
a piece of the
culture they had read so much
about.
Wallace set up
shop in Zuni, supplying tools and material to
Zuni artists who would gather there to work. By all reports,
from artists still living today who worked for him,
CG Wallace was a fair and good man.
While CG
Wallace employed many fine Zuni artists,
Leekya Deyuse gained the most fame. Leekya was
both a jeweler and a carver.
Here are a few examples of Leekya's fetish carving.
|
Turquoise Ram from the Heard Museum Collection
|
Two bears given to son Frances when he was a young boy.
It is
interesting to note that back in those early days,
work was not signed.
Even today, many old time
carvers do not sign their work.
Their
signature is "written" into the art.
Signing Indian
art is a new convention brought about
by both collector demand and plagiarism (fraud).
Then as today, an artist's work has an
identifiable style and technique.
<><><>
Leekya Deyuse's work draws the highest prices
of all Zuni fetishes.
Because of it's historic and artistic value, authentic Leekya
Deyuse fetishes and jewelry are eagerly sought by
Museums, Institutions, and collectors alike.
While Leekya was a prolific artist, much of his work has not
survived
and rarely do new pieces come to market.
A large Leekya Deyuse table fetish of a wolf was sold
8 years
ago by Penny Burns, in a well respected
Sedona gallery,
for $10,000.
Leekya Deyuse prices have been steadily rising.
Fetish carvings from Leekya Deyuse sell for $2,000 - $40,000.
Here is an email received by Sedonawolf sometime ago.
|
All the pieces below are sold and are here for
reference only.
They sold in the year 2000.
|
|
$2,500
<><><>
|
$32,900
<><><>
|
$13,450
<><><>
|
$29,750
<><><>
1930's Leekya Deyuse Fetishes for sale
please call or
email for help
800 462-8536
<<<<<<<<<>S<>E<>D<>O<>N<>A<>W<>O<>L<>F<><<<
