Neil David Sr.

Warrior Mouse

8 3/4" total height


This particular figure represents the fabled "Warrior Mouse." While not actually a kachina, he has earned himself a respectable place in the hearts of young and old alike.

As the story goes, the village was being threatened by a nasty old hawk - he was eating all the village chickens.

The old men knew he must be killed, the boys knew he must be killed, and all the women and children knew he must be killed - but no one knew how, and all their plans had failed.

The Village Chief and Town Crier were very worried and had met in private to smoke and ponder upon the subject. Even they did not know how to rid themselves of the marauding hawk.

Then late one night, a little mouse sat smoking in his little kiva - and he felt bad for the people and decided that he would kill the hawk. So that night he went to the home of the Village Chief.

Upon being invited in, he ate and smoked, and the chief smoked, and the mouse told him why he had come. He was going to kill the hawk. At first the chief was amused, and then he was concerned, but he accepted the offer anyway.

When the Town Crier and the rest of the village heard about the plans of the mouse, they shook their head and questioned the village leader. But some thought maybe the mouse had special power. So they prepared anyway.

A date was set, and preparations took place. People came from all the other villages to see their friends and relatives, to talk and joke, and of course to eat. They came to see the mouse who was to kill the hawk.

The mouse had also prepared. He had sharpened the end of a greasewood stick and dug a long tunnel from his kiva into the plaza. There he dug another hole reaching to the surface. He smoked all night before the day of the warrior's dance. He dressed himself in warpaint and feathers and took his club and bow.

He set the warriors standard on the ladder of his kiva, and when it was time he emerged dancing and singing his little warrior song - The hawk kills chickens, and the hawk kills rabbits, but the hawk will not kill the warrior mouse!

The people all watched in amazement - some in doubt, as the hawk sat watching from far away. He was angry with this mouse and flew off to destroy him - but the mouse danced close to the opening of his kiva and ducked inside each time the hawk came close.

Then finally he went into the tunnel he had dug and drove the sharp spear up through the ground next to the opening in the earth, and he went back out singing and dancing. Only this time he went far away from his kiva, and all the people thought the hawk would get him for sure. It was just then that the hawk swooped down low to snatch up the pesky mouse, but the mouse dropped down into the hole he had dug, and the hawk, who did not see the spear in the ground, impaled himself, slicing his throught, and rolled over dead.

The villagers were amazed, and the little mouse was honored as a hero - and they celebrated. And that is how the mouse defeated the hawk.


Born in 1944 on First Mesa in the village of Hano, Arizona, Neil David Sr. - a Hopi/Tewa - was carving kachina dolls before he was ten years old.

During his high school years his paintings and sketches were sold through Byron Hunter who managed McGee's store in Polacca, Arizona.

Neil's paintings and kachina carvings can be found in private collections and museums throughout the world. The set of 79 original paintings by Neil, published in his book: Kachinas: Spirit Beings of the Hopi, have been acquired by the Kashiwagi Museum in Tateshina, Nagano, Japan.


 

Neil entered the army and served in Germany during the Vietnam War. He resides in Polacca, Arizona on the Hopi Indian Reservation and continues to paint and carve. He sells his paintings and kachina dolls through art galleries and direct comissions from collectors.

Neil's artistic talents and creativity have brought him international recognition. His humor is conveyed through the expressions and antics of his Clown figures. His dedication and commitment to his heritage is seen in his paintings and carvings.

Neil's co-mingling of art and dedication to his culture gives a rare opportunity to view elements of Hopi life without intruding on the society. His insight, perception, and ability to capture on canvas, the personalities and actions of performers and spectators during the Hopi festivities have brought him wide acclaim and support for calling him "the Hopis' Norman Rockwell."

Neil's work is featured in over a dozen books and periodicals including Art of the Hopi by Jerry Jacka, Treasures of the Hopi by Theda Bassman, and Art of Kachina Doll Carving by E. Bromberg.

The always mischievous and sometimes gluttonous Koshare are perfect satire of normal village life. Neil's Koshare are unique in that each has his own distinct characteristics - and personality. Their facial features, posture, and body movements tell us so much about the attitude of life in the Hopi plaza.

Neil's work is widely recognized due to the highly exagerated features of his figures. Oversized ears, nose, and lips usually feature prominently.

Gallery Price: $750.00

Sale: $600.00
(plus sh/han)


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item, please contact Brandon:
sales@ancientnations.com

1.800.854.1359

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