Hand-carved Sonoran Ironwood Native Couple Seri Indian Freemasonic Sculpture

  

OFFERED HERE IS A HAND-CARVED SONORAN IRONWOOD SCULPTURE OF A NATIVE AMERICAN EXPECTANT INDIAN COUPLE (MEXICAN INDIAN) IN PUNTA CHUECA MEXICO: COMMISIONED BY A MASTER CARVER SERI INDIAN AS A FREEMASONIC SCULPTURE SHOW PIECE. THIS PIECE IS FROM THE MASONIC LODGE OF SONORA MEXICO AND WAS DISPLAYED THERE PRIOR TO IT'S IMPORT INTO THE UNITED STATES.

THIS SCULPTURE DEPICTS A RARE SUBJECT (ACTUAL PEOPLE) BY A NATIVE TRIBE THAT IS NEARLY EXTINCT. (SERI'S STARTED OUT CARVING ONLY PRIMITIVE SMALL ANIMAL AND SEA CREATURES) THAT COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THIS IS FROM THE ACTUAL MASONIC LODGE MAKES IT A VERY RARE PIECE THAT WOULD BE WELCOMED INTO ANY MUSEUM OR PRIVATE COLLECTION IN THE WORLD.

THESE FOLK ART CARVINGS WERE NEVER SIGNED BUT, THE QUALITY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. THIS IS THE FINEST SERI MADE SCULPTURE I HAVE EVER SEEN AND I HAVE BEEN TRADING WITH THE SERI'S SINCE THE LATE 1980'S. THE CHIEF OF THE SERI'S , ERNESTO WAS A GREAT PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE AND WE JOURNIED EXTENSIVELY ON TRIPS TO TIBERON ISLAND TOGETHER BACK IN THE DAY. ONLY SERI'S ARE ALLOWED ON THE SACRED ISLAND WITHOUT BEING ACCOMPANIED BY A SERI INDIAN.

THIS PIECE MEASURES A MASSIVE 23 INCHES TALL AND 8 INCHES ACROSS THE BASE. IRON WOOD IS SO HARD AND DENSE IT WILL NOT FLOAT IN WATER. THIS PIECE HAS THE METAL MASONIC SEAL WHICH IS WRITTEN IN SPANISH. THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION SAYS; " GRAND LODGE OF ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF THE PACIFIC".

THIS IS CARVED FROM A SINGLE PIECE OF WOOD AND AS AN AVID COLLECTOR OF MEXICAN ART IT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT ITEM FOR ME TO PART WITH BUT, IT IS LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME OR MUSEUM TO BE SHARED WITH. El Desemboque is a town located 376 km from Hermosillo on the shore of Gulf of California in the Mexican state of Sonora; coordinates N 29° 30' 13", W 112° 23' 43".

It is part of the Municipality of Pitiquito, and is one of two major villages on the Seri Indian communal property, the other being Punta Chueca. Ironwood carving is a unique art that originated by the Seri indigenous tribe.

Seri tribe members have lived in extreme habitats in the great Sonora Desert of Arizona and Northern Mexico. There are records of Seri existence going back as far as 1536 although no one knows exactly when they originated. It was not until 1961 that Seri started carving ironwood sculptures as an art. Over time, Seri tribe members have perfected their skills and handcraft sculptures of sea life, birds, animals, reptiles, and humans. Seri members who become masters in the art of carving spend hours and even days sanding, polishing, and detailing sculptures to perfection. Ironwood is a common name for a large number of woods that have a reputation for hardness.

This species of ironwood is Olneya tesota and it is the only species of its kind found in the Pacific southwest. It grows to 2,500 feet above sea level in the deserts of southwestern Arizona, southeastern California, Baja California, and Sonora.

Olneya tesota is one of the longest living trees in the Sonoran Desert, and can live as long as 1,500 years, although it is very rare. Green Ironwood trees are not harvested for carving.

This species of trees is protected by the government and can only be used for artisan purposes. Only naturally fallen trees or trees that have been struck by lightning are used for these carvings. Dry ironwood must be exposed to extreme climate conditions of the Sonoran Desert for a minimum of 5 years to be suitable for carving. Artisans spend numerous hours finding a tree that is appropriate for a sculpture.

The item "HAND-CARVED SONORAN IRONWOOD NATIVE COUPLE SERI INDIAN FREEMASONIC SCULPTURE" is in sale since Sunday, April 7, 2019. This item is in the category "Antiques\Decorative Arts\Woodenware\Carved Figures".

The seller is "meteoritemax" and is located in Tucson, Arizona. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Style: wood
• Age: Post-1940
• Maker: Seri Indians of EL DESEMBOQUE / PUNTA CHUECA
• Original/Reproduction: Original
• California Prop 65 Warning: NA
• Color: Brown
• Country/Region of Origin: SONORA MEXICO