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IRONWOOD WILDLIFE SCULPTURES BY THOMAS SUBY
The medium from which an original sculpture is snapped has varying degrees of importance in its emergence to final form.
For me, this rich desert wood has always had a place of equal. I was first introduced to desert Ironwood
(Olneya tesota) through the stylized forms of the Seri Indians of the Sonoran coast of Gulf of California in the mid 1970s.
It is a deep-rooted Acacia that produces lovely purple flowers in the spring. It grows along washes throughout
the lower elevation of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, California and Northern Mexico. These sculptures
are the result of many years of collaborative effort between artisan friends and myself in Sonora.
We begin with wood that is long dead and often hundreds of years old.
We develop a figure from photographs, models, film and/or direct observation. Next we chalk a form on a log, doing our
best to use this valuable wood in an efficient and effective way, chipping it down to a workable shape with a heavy
hatchet. Because of its density and homogeneity, it works a lot like stone, resulting in many similar techniques, including
the use of rotary tools with carbide bits, chisels, files and sandpaper ranging from 60 to 600 grit.
My friend, Ramon has an especially good feeling for movement and character. Ultimately, I bring them to my shop for the
final detailing and finishing. My appreciation in the miracle of diversity of form in animals has deepened with each year.
I hope each piece does justice to the wildlife and to this beautiful work.
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527818 - 1
BEAR, IN RIVER WITH FISH
L 11" X W 5" X H 6"
SOLD
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527818 - 2
BEAR, FRONT PAWS ON ROCK
L 5" X W 3.5" X H 7"
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527818 - 3
BEAR, FISH IN MOUTH
L 7.5" X W 4" X H 4.5"
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395464 - 2
HORSE ON BASE
H 7" X W 9-1/2" X D 4"
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527818 - 4
BEAR, LEFT PAW RAISED
L 8" X W 2.5" X H 4.5"
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527818 - 5
SMALL BEAR
L 6.5" X W 53" X H 4.5"
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527818 - 6
TROUT
L 10" X W 2" X H 3.5"
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28
HORSE
H 9" X W 9" X D 5"
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23
LARGE SCENE 4 BEARS WITH TREE
H 12-1/2" X W 17" X D 10"
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527802 - 6
LARGE HORNED OWL
H 15-1/2" X W 8" X D 6"
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527805 - 3
JAVALINA & BABY WITH CACTUS
H 7-1/2" X W 6-1/2" X 5-1/2"
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379073 - 13
FELCON
H 9" X W 4" X D 4"
SOLD
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527802 - 14
HUMPBACK ON BASE
H 11" X W 9" X D 4-1/2"
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14
CEDAR WAX WING ON BRANCH
H 8" X W 5" X D 3"
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648 - 5
STANDING PELICAN ON BASE
H 10.5" X W 6" X D 5"
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379073 - 9
LARGE HORSE
H 12" X W 13" X D 7"
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649 - 3
HALF SITTING HORSE
H 12" X W 10" X D 8"
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379073 - 15
GOAT FAMILY ON BASE
H 12" X W 12" X D 7"
SOLD
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379073 - 10
LARGE RABBIT
H 8" X W 7" X D 5"
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650 - 5
SMALL SCRATCHING RABBIT
H 7" X W 4" X D 6"
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379074 - 4 ( #1 )
QUAIL
H 9" X W 5" X D 3"
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375462 - 08
DOLPHIN
H 6-1/2" X W 9-1/2" X D 2-1/2"
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