RARE Michael Salazar Signed 1983 Cedar Bulto St. Francis with Bird Taos NM

RARE Michael Salazar Signed 1983 Cedar Bulto St. Francis with Bird Taos NM - Image 2

RARE Michael Salazar Signed 1983 Cedar Bulto St. Francis with Bird Taos NM - Image 3

RARE Michael Salazar Signed 1983 Cedar Bulto St. Francis with Bird Taos NM - Image 4

RARE Michael Salazar Signed 1983 Cedar Bulto St. Francis with Bird Taos NM - Image 5

RARE Michael Salazar Signed 1983 Cedar Bulto St. Francis with Bird Taos NM - Image 6

RARE Michael Salazar Signed 1983 Cedar Bulto St. Francis with Bird Taos NM - Image 7

RARE Michael Salazar Signed 1983 Cedar Bulto St. Francis with Bird Taos NM - Image 8

RARE Michael Salazar Signed 1983 Cedar Bulto St. Francis with Bird Taos NM - Image 9

RARE Michael Salazar Signed 1983 Cedar Bulto St. Francis with Bird Taos NM

Description

Description

An exceptional and rare large-scale hand-carved cedar bulto of San Francisco de Asís (St. Francis of Assisi) by Michael Salazar of Taos, New Mexico — signed 1983, within his final years of carving before his untimely death in the mid-1980s. This is among the most ambitious compositions in the Salazar family tradition. The figure leans forward dramatically at a steep angle — breaking completely from the static columnar form typical of New Mexican bultos — with the face turned in profile and one arm raised, a small bird perched on the outstretched hand. The other arm holds a book or tablet against the body, carved with star-punch cross marks. The leaning posture and intact bird represent an extraordinary feat of carving in a single piece of cedar. 15″x8″x4.5″ 3 lbs. Please see pictures for condition details as the photos are considered a part of the description.