JOHNSON ANTONIO...NAVAJO WOMAN... WOOD CARVING 1987...FOLKART, NATIVE AMERICAN

Description

NATIVE AMERICAN / NAVAJO/ DINE ARTIST,
JOHNSON ANTONIO
, LIVES IN NEW MEXICO ( IN A VERY REMOTE AREA) AND BEGAN CARVING LATE IN HIS LIFE. AFTER A CAREER WITH THE RAILROADS, A PIECE OF COTTONWOOD 'FOUND' HIM AND HE BEGAN CARVING FIGURES REPRESENTING HIS PEOPLE. HE LATER EXPANDED TO ANIMALS, ETC. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PIECES IN MY COLLECTION I DID NOT PURCHASE DIRECT FROM THE ARTIST, BUT AT THE GALLERY IN SANTA FE WHO ORIGINALLY 'FOUND' JOHNSON AND BEGAN SHOWING HIS WORK. IT WAS UNUSUAL FOR A NAVAJO TO BECOME A WOOD CARVER AT THAT TIME. JOHNSON IS FEATURED IN THE BOOK '
THE PEOPLE SPEAK-NAVAJO FOLK ART
' AND A COLLECTION OF HIS WORK IS ON THE INSIDE COVER AS WELL AS A BIOGRAPHY OF HIS INFLUENCE IN FOLK ARTS OF THE DINE. I'VE INCLUDED SOME PICTURES.
THIS KNEELING NAVAJO WOMAN IS REALLY WONDERFUL, SHE HAS A VERY STOIC EXPRESSION ON HER FACE, AND THAT IS NOT UNUSUAL WITH THE DINE.  THE CARVING, A
NATIVE AMERICAN FOLK ART PIECE IS CIRCA 1987
. I HAVE INCLUDED A PICTURE OF HER SITTING ON AN ARTS AND CRAFTS PIECE, WHERE YOU CAN SEE SHE SITS WITH SMALL POTTERY PIECES IN FRONT OF HER, REMINISCENT OF THE MARKETS IN SANTA FE. SHE IS WEARING A TURQUOISE NECKLACE AND TURQUOISE BRACELETS AND HER HAIR IS TRADITIONAL.
SHE IS 9 1/2" IN HEIGHT,
AND
THE BASE IS 3 1/4" X 3"
..SHE IS WONDERFUL PLACED NEXT TO HER NAVAJO MALE PARTNER.I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT THEM ON THE PICTURED CABINET AND THIS IS A NO SMOKING HOME. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS AND ALL IS ORIGINAL. It is signed on the bottom and the gallery owner colored out his Johnson's phone number. Go figure! I don't blame him.
JOHNSON'S WORK IS HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE AND A NUMBER OF PIECES ARE IN PERMANENT MUSEUM COLLECTIONS; The Smithsonian Institute, The Luce Foundation Center for American Art, The Heard Museum, and others. He is featured on the Smithsonian website under their collections, and his work is also featured in such books as,
Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia, 1990.
Johnson has always said he makes his 'dolls' for himself, not the money, as the dolls live forever.
Please ask me any questions. His female partner is also up for bid on ebay. Thank you. I will ship your item within 2 business days of receiving notification from Paypal of your purchase. Thank you.
If you like these, please check my listing and save me as a seller as I am always listing folk art, native American, Mexican, collectibles, jewelry, etc.
PLEASE ASK ALL QUESTIONS PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS PIECE, I VALUE MY FEEDBACK, AM NOT A DEALER AND DO NOT MAKE A LIVING BUYING AND SELLING - I AM JUST A PERSON, DESCRIBING THE PIECE AND IT'S HISTORY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. ENJOY...PLEASE CHECK MY LISTING FOR  CHIMAYO VESTS,  WELL KNOWN NATIVE, MEXICAN, AND CONTEMPORARY ARTISANS...INCLUDING KIT CARSON, OF PBS 'CRAFT IN AMERICA'; JEWELRY by Native artists Ric Charlie, Michael Horse, CARVED NAVAJO Pieces by JOHNSON ANTONIO (Collection of Smithsonian, Washington DC) and others.
Since I do not deal in hundreds, or even thousands of items...ALL OF MY TRANSACTIONS AND FEEDBACK ARE IMPORTANT TO ME. I STRIVE TO DESCRIBE MY ITEMS TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AS I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY, AND ONLY RECEIVE THE HIGHEST FEEDBACK RATINGS. I WOULD ONLY ASK OF YOU THAT WHICH I AM WILLING TO ALSO GIVE. PLEASE LEAVE FEEDBACK. THANK YOU.