VTG 1992 Seri Mexican Ironwood Carving Yaqui Deer Dancer Statue/Sculpture 15" For Sale

This vintage 1992 Seri ironwood sculpture stands an impressive 15 inches tall, capturing the dynamic and revered Yaqui Deer Dancer (Danzante del Venado) in mid-ceremonial crouch. Handcrafted in Sonora, Mexico, this premium, large-scale piece showcases the rich, dark tones and swirling grain patterns unique to authentic desert ironwood (palofierro). The sculpture was created using traditional, highly labor-intensive Seri methods, starting with deadwood logs naturally cured by the sun, which were then forcefully rough-blocked with a machete before being meticulously refined using a hand rasp and pocketknife. Because ironwood is one of the densest and heaviest woods in the world, family members completed the piece through hours of grueling hand-sanding with progressively finer grits and intensive buffing with natural oils to achieve its signature glass-like, high-gloss luster. Exceptionally well-preserved with its delicate antlers and handheld rattles completely intact, the underside features its original gallery provenance label handwritten as "Sonora, Mexico / Seri / Oct. 1992," making it a highly collectible and verified masterpiece of indigenous Mexican folk art.
Thank you for looking at this beautiful hand-carved artwork! ♥️