Allan Houser Bronze Sculpture “The Drummer” [SOLD]

This bronze, appropriately titled "The Drummer", was created by legendary Apache artist Allan Houser. Where the bronze was cast is not indicated on the bronze, but perhaps it was at Shidoni Foundry in Tesuque, New Mexico. For many years, Shidoni Foundry was a significant part of Santa Fe's art scene. Their foundry ceased operations in 2017, but their gallery and large sculpture garden are still open to the public.

"The Drummer" is a fine example of Allan Houser's skill as a sculptor. The drummer's face is very much like Houser's work. It's a somewhat straightforward depiction expressing his concentration on the task at hand. The drummer's body moves into more expressive territory as it displays both hands in action: the left hand encircling the drum and the right holding the beater.

The golden color of the bronze is almost obliterated with its dark coloration. Highlights of the dark finish were eliminated at critical parts which Houser wished as contrast. The result is certainly appropriate for the subject. Despite its small scale, "The Drummer" projects strength and beauty.

The base of the bronze is signed A. Houser. There is no date indicated, nor is there an edition number.

Allan Houser (1914-1994) Haozous was a Chiricahua Apache painter, sculptor, teacher, and illustrator whose works are displayed in major museum collections around the world. Houser was born in 1914 near Fort Sill, Oklahoma and passed away in 1994. A Warm Springs Chiricahua Apache, he was the great nephew of the famous Chiricahua warrior Geronimo. At the age of 20 he went to study at the Santa Fe Indian School under the tutelage of Dorothy Dunn. While he excelled at The Studio, he found it confining and constricting.

Today, Allan Houser is recognized as one of the most successful and accomplished Native American artists of the twentieth century. His works are included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, the National Museum of the American Indian, and many other prestigious institutions. His many accomplishments include receiving a Guggenheim fellowship and being the first Native American to receive the National Medal of Arts. Through his sculptures, his paintings, and his efforts as an educator, Houser's voice remains one of the strongest in the world of Native American art.

Condition: this Allan Houser Bronze Sculpture "The Drummer" is in excellent original condition

Provenance: the current owners purchased the bronze from Houser directly.

Recommended Reading: ALLAN HOUSER an American Master (Chiricahua Apache, 1914-1994) by W. Jackson Rushing

TAGS: Chiricahua Apache, sculpture, drawing, paintings, wood carving, Native art, Allan Houser