Late Nineteenth Century Tesuque Rain God Figurine [SOLD]

The earliest documented clay idol figurine was collected before 1879 by the Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories and it was similar to those shown in an 1880 photograph of Aaron Gold’s store in Santa Fe.  Figurines in that photo were rain gods and other shapes.  The photograph is too small to determine if there are any with Whirling Log designs but this figurine has a black Whirling Log design painted on top of the head, the only decoration on the entire figurine.

The Whirling Log was used extensively by many Native American tribes as a design on baskets, textiles, pottery and other forms of decorative use on clothing or objects.  The use of the Whirling Log ceased as Germany began its Nazi rule in the late 1920s and 1930s (they had taken this design and manipulated it for their own use).  This Tesuque Pueblo Rain God figurine, with the Whirling Log design, appears to be from the late 1800s but could be as late as the very early 1900s.  That painted design is the only decoration on the figurine.  On the underside, written in ink in cursive style, is Tesuque Pueblo 1/3, a style used by museums as acquisition notations.

Condition: excellent condition

Recommended Reading:  When Rain Gods Reigned: From Curios to Art at Tesuque Pueblo by Duane Anderson.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery.

Provenance: from a collection in New York