Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-1144   CAS 0370-1144; Painting
Category Visual Arts
Object Name Painting
Culture San Ildefonso Pueblo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. New Mexico
County Santa Fe
Other Geographic Data San Ildefonso Pueblo
Maker's Name Awa Tsireh (Alfonso Roybal) (1898-1955)
Date of Manufacture ca. 1930-1935
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Colored ink and watercolor on paper
Description Untitled painting on white paper depicting two eagle dancers and pair of drummers; Male drummers are shown at right in half profile, each dressed in moccasins, pants, and shirts and each holding pueblo style barrel drum out in front and drumstick in right hand; Dancers are in front of them and are identically dressed in black leggings, leather kilt painted with plumed serpent motif, bundle of eagle feathers tied at their waists, eagle feather "wings" along their arms, and head cap with protruding "beak"; All figures are shown against plain white background with no attempt at perspective; Signature "Awa Tsireh" is handwritten in black ink in lower right corner. Awa Tsireh was the cousin of Margaret Lou Gutierrez, whose work is represented in the CAS pottery collection.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 45.7, Length = 32.5