This is yet another low cost win from an online auction. It's a solid bronze sculptural roundel attached to a nicely finished hardwood plaque, titled "Arapaho Indian Chief" by Lee Jones. On the back is varnished on a note about the artist, stating that Lee Jones is from Colorado and sculpts local wildlife and people of the First Nations. There is also a card attached to the back from the gallery in Taos, NM that originally sold the piece (they closed in 2007, after a very long and storied history). I managed to get hold of the retired former owner of the gallery, who has neither memory of the artist or records of the piece. His best guess is that it probably dates to before 1974 or so, when he started at the gallery (his mother had opened the gallery in 1960). I've also tried searching online, but the name "Lee Jones" is just too common to get any decent results. If I remember right, this one is numbered 3/15, which means there should be at least two others out there.
If anyone can help with information on either the artist or this piece, please let me know!
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"Arapaho Indian Chief" by Lee Jones, 3/15 |