Cherokee Necklace with Fossilized Ivory Carved Bat Pendant [SOLD]

Cherokee artist Patty Fawn and her daughter, Nakweesee, carved this playful bat out of fossilized ivory that hangs from a strand of small, rounded beads. The eyes were made from a lustrous, blue abalone shell. The face of the small creature seems to have a sly grin. 

Patty Fawn’s family was originally from Oklahoma. They moved to the Pacific Northwest where they were adopted by the Kwak”waka Waka tribe of British Columbia. Patty and her daughter, Nakweesee, (which means Stars) are known for their carvings of animals of the Northwest. To the tribes of the Northwest bats are a symbol of diligence. 

This happy, diligent bat comes from the collection of Marvin and Betty Rubin. According to their records they purchased the necklace in 1988. The piece is not signed, but the Rubin’s records indicate the artists as Patty Fawn and Nakweesee and the work is unmistakably their style. 

Condition: the necklace is in excellent condition. 

Provenance: this Cherokee Necklace with Fossilized Ivory Carved Bat Pendant is from the estate of Marvin and Betty Rubin of Albuquerque

Recommended Reading: Northwest Coast Indian Art by Bill Holm

Relative Links: Native American Jewelry, Cherokee Nation, Patty Fawn and Nakweesee, Cherokee Artisans