VIRGIL ORTIZ Antelope Storyteller Figurine with 5 Young Antelope [SOLD]

Cochiti Pueblo artist Virgil Ortiz created this Antelope Storyteller Figurine with 5 Young Antelope. This storyteller ensemble is usually referred to as a “story hour” figurine as the children are not attached to the main pottery figurine.  The adult is dressed as a pueblo Antelope dancer.  His face is black and body with white front and orange back.  He is wearing evergreen bought around his neck and on his head, and a seashell pendant suspended in front.  There are shells attached to his antlers.  

Each of the five young Antelope Dancers is dressed sim;ply in orange slip to signify the color of the antelope.  Each of them also has a pendant hanging from their necks  Their head piece is a replica of an antelope.  Like the adult, their faces are painted black.

Virgil Ortiz is one of the most talented young artists of today. He is a master potter, clothes designer, photographer of models, and video producer. He began his career at age six with his first storyteller figurine. Today, he makes remarkable figurines, but rarely of the traditional style. His figurines depict the style popular in the 19th century—figurines of circus freaks, opera singers, Spanish merchants, etc.

It is difficult to decipher Virgil’s date which is part of an elaborate scroll, but it appears to be 1994.  It is in original condition.

Relative Links: traditional pottery vessels, jewelry, Seferina Ortiz, Cochiti Pueblo, figurative pottery, Virgil Ortiz, Cochiti Pueblo Potter