RARE Wood Carving by Navajo Artist Charlie Willeto [SOLD]

Charlie Willeto was a Navajo medicine man who turned folk artist near the end of his life. It was not until 1961, four years before his death, that he began carving the wood figurines for which he is now so famous. Willeto would take his carvings to Mauzy’s Trading Post near Nageezi and trade for provisions.

Willeto has been known as Alfred Willeto and Charlie Willeto. The latter is his name, but it is not uncommon for a Navajo to choose a second name when venturing to do something different than that of his profession, in this case, a medicine man turning to creating art. Perhaps the fact that his upraised arms carvings resemble representations of the Navajo supernatural Yei was foremost in his mind when he chose to carve under an assumed name rather than that of his medicine man name.

This figure appears to represent a Navajo man with leggings, a concha belt around his waist and a necklace around his neck. The wood is painted a brick orange color and decorations applied in white paint. It appears that the wood was still green when he carved and painted it and pine sap has bled out of the wood over time.

Condition: The carving is in original excellent condition.

Provenance: ex. coll. Family of Fawcett Publishing Company