Navajo Alabaster Chief Sculpture by Richard Silver, 1980s Gallery Scale - 13"

Details

Description

Elevate your space with this striking, vintage Southwestern fine art sculpture hand-carved by recognized Navajo (Diné) artist Richard Silver. Standing … Read more Elevate your space with this striking, vintage Southwestern fine art sculpture hand-carved by recognized Navajo (Diné) artist Richard Silver. Standing at an impressive, large gallery-scale height of 13 inches, this freestanding statue is meticulously sculpted from premium, multi-toned banded alabaster stone.

Despite its commanding visual presence, the sculpture is remarkably lightweight for its size and display-friendly, weighing 4 pounds 5 ounces. This is achieved through the artist's masterfully executed negative-space cutout centers and fluid openwork silhouettes carved directly into the stone matrix. It provides all the prestige of a large-scale gallery sculpture without overwhelming structural weight, making it incredibly versatile for placement on wall shelves, tables, and display cabinets. It makes a commanding focal point when styled on an entryway console table, atop a display pillar/pedestal, or nestled on a sturdy mantel or bookshelf.

The natural mineral veins run beautifully through the piece, contrasting warm terracotta earth tones against creamy sands, textured whites, and deep mineral lines.

Artistic Features & Indigenous Iconography:
The sculpture elegantly blends figurative portraiture with sacred indigenous iconography. It features the sharp, stylized profile of a Native American Chief in a traditional feather headdress, framed beautifully by a negative-space cutout center. The flank of the stone features deep relief, hand-etched petroglyph symbols:

The Bear Paw: A sacred Native American symbol representing leadership, protection, physical power, and spiritual healing.

The Kokopelli: The legendary Southwestern deity of fertility, music, and seasonal abundance, intricately etched and highlighted into the stone matrix.

Spirit Totem: An integrated, stylized spirit figure/animal totem carved below the primary icons.

Geometric Accents: Intricate stippled patterns, starburst motifs, and stepped borders run along the silhouette, showcasing the exceptional chisel control of the artist.

Integrated Amulet Neckpiece: A masterful example of the artist's resourcefulness; Richard Silver cleverly utilized an organic, natural depression in the stone matrix to fashion a traditional tribal necklace/amulet, meticulously surrounding it with hand-stippled dot accents to elevate the chief's profile.

Attribution & Hallmarks:
This sculpture features the artist's distinct hand-carved pictorial hallmarks worked directly into the alabaster matrix below the bear paw emblem, including a beautifully rendered spirit figure and stylized starburst motifs. The bottom of the stone base remains cleanly finished and smooth, showcasing the authentic, solid natural stone construction without hidden text or inscriptions.

About the Artist:
Richard & Stella Silver – Navajo (Diné) Richard Silver is an accomplished, contemporary Navajo (Diné) stone carver and sculptor specializing in fine Southwestern alabaster artwork. Working closely alongside his artistic partner, Stella Silver, the duo earned a highly respected reputation in the Native American art community during their peak activity throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

The Silvers are celebrated for their ability to blend figurative Indigenous portraiture with fluid, minimalist modern silhouettes. Rather than standard block carving, Richard's signature technique involves leveraging the stone's organic geometry to frame a subject. He masterfully balances heavily chiseled, raw, high-texture surfaces against glassy, high-polish finishes. Their pieces are actively sought after by collectors of authentic Southwestern indigenous artifacts and high-end tribal art, elegantly bridging the gap between historical storytelling and modern architectural decor.

Condition Report:
Excellent vintage condition with minimal signs of wear consistent with age and gentle display. No structural cracks or major damage. Natural stone variations, veining, raw mineral textures, and hand-chiseled borders are part of the inherent beauty and organic process of this handmade fine art piece.

Weight & Display Note:
Weighing 4 lbs 5 oz, this piece offers the grand presence of a large-scale gallery sculpture without the overwhelming structural weight of solid stone blocks. It is beautifully suited for sturdy mantels, deep bookshelves, or anchored display cabinets. Please ensure any floating shelves or glass surfaces are properly rated to support a 5-pound fine art object securely. See less