Posted 7 years ago
mtnclimber…
(44 items)
Size: 8" H, 5"W.... CRoad, recently purchased this owl. I remember you saying the older ones have feet. This has nice weight to piece.
What do you think CRoad? thanks for your knowledge-past, current and future...
He's so cute!
Yes! this is a Zuni Owl. you can see and read about lots more here: https://www.pinterest.com/ho2cultcha/zuni-and-acoma-polychrome-owls/
i have a really nice one too. yours is a very good one - because of the big feet and the open mouth with a tongue. the eyes on you are also really cool. personally, i really like the unique ones!
Owls can see what others cannot and this is a large part of Owl (Muhukwi) medicine. Owl’s ability to do this reminds us of the importance of both worlds: the physical as well as the spiritual, perhaps the known and the unknown. Our willingness and courage to transform the unknown in ourselves into the known is a true source of wisdom. The Zuni Pueblo people call the owl “the Night Grandfather” because he does his work at night. Clairvoyant properties and uncovering deception have always been associated with Owl. Its connection with wisdom comes from Owl’s ability to discern that which cannot be “seen.”
Another tribe in the southwestern United States is the Zuni Pueblo of New
Mexico. The owl was not used just as a magic maker or warrior aid, but for
healing. The Zuni Pueblo people of the southwest see the owl as a healer and a
teacher, but appreciated the creature for similar reasons. The bird is in the stories
passed on from generation to generation. Owls are also in their motherly
warnings, dance costumes, prayer sticks, and vessels of religious significance.
Most of all, the owl is prevalent in their artwork. Some of this artwork is still
being made and sold today at auctions, museums, and Zuni stores (Medlin 1967).
Libby McArthur
The Iconographic Owl Through the Eyes of American Artists
52
The idea that the owl can see what cannot be “seen” is why the owl is
often connected to healing. Owl Medicine reminds us of the importance of the
two worlds of the seen and unseen or the physical and spiritual. The Zuni Pueblo
Indians refer to the owl as the “Night Grandfather” because he works at night to
assist their people. The term grandfather is given to show the wisdom of the owl.
The owl is able to uncover deception with his clairvoyant thinking or once again
being able to see an unseen path.
The wisdom of the owl is apparent in the Zuni story “The Prairie Dogs ask
Owl to Stop the Rain”. In the story, the prairie dogs are forced to ask
“Grandfather Burrowing Owl” for help in stopping the rain from flooding their
fields. Grandfather Burrowing Owl hatches an elaborate plan involving getting
the stink from a bug who ate too many beans and forcing the bad smell up to the
rain gods to get them to move on, away from the prairie dogs’ homes (Browne,
Magnusson, and Warren, 1995). When the prairie dogs were stuck with no
solution they went to see Grandfather Burrowing Owl for answers and to lead
them onto the correct path.
Zuni Pueblo artisans are known for animal effigy vessels and carved
material fetishes. James Stevenson a trained archeologist and ethnologist traveled
to Zuni, New Mexico in the 1880s. There, he found many owl effigy vessels like
the one in Figure 4-17. Made from ceramics, Stevenson classified these vessels
as sacred jars with religious significance. The vessels usually depict an owl in a
more stylized manner. The owls tend to have large plump bodies and rounded
heads with small beaks and large eyes. In most cases eyelashes appear next to the
Libby McArthur
The Iconographic Owl Through the Eyes of American Artists
53
eyes. The wings are usually small and thin, or sometimes will be seen holding
objects like owlets (Figure 4-18). The legs of the vessels are typically long with
large talons on the feet. The vessels are often white wear with decorations
rendered in color. Some of the larger vessels have a large opening in the top
while most have a small opening in the beak area.
Due to the Zunis placing a high regard on privacy, not much is known
about these vessels. Some historians link them to fertility because they are placed
in the home and some are created with owlets or baby owls being held onto by the
owl. It is even said that some Zuni mothers place an owl feather next to a baby to
help it sleep. Some Zuni families are even known to keep owls as pets (Medlin
1967).
The Zuni Pueblo people also carve owls from stone and other materials
called fetishes. These fetishes are carved to honor the animal and its spirit. It’s
considered a special kind of medicine that takes the traits from that animal and
instills them in the human host. It is like a connection from the animal spirit to the
person. Some carry fetishes to be reminded of their connection to nature as well.
The Zuni feel that the fetish itself is not the thing of value but instead the spirit is
what is important. The Zuni also have ceremonial fetishes whose forms are
carefully dictated and monitored by strict guidelines.
that long piece was from: Fall 2012
The Iconographic Owl through the Eyes of
American Artists: From Native Americans to
Joseph Cornell
Elizabeth McArthur
Governors State University
ho2...thanks for the well written description, time & effort...
in RRancho
It reminds me somewhat of Acoma Pueblo Pottery
Nice find!
ho2...with your knowledge of Zuni Owls, what would you estimate the age to be?
I'm thinking 1920-30's...
Nice Owl mtnclimber19k, and what great information you got from Pete! :^)