Vintage Beautiful Shoshoni Drummers Signed "Ottoway" native American Indian

Description

This is a wonderful Shoshone group of American Indians sitting on stumps, beating a large hollow drum with stick beaters covered at the end with leather. The piece measures 7 1/4" H S 7" across the round bottom base.This great sculpture is signed on the bottom -- Benjamin Ottagary. The Ottogary family is well-known for their doll artistry. The family dolls can be readily recognized because of their distinct design.  Each figure is carefully crafted with leather, wear moccasins with a decoration on the toes, have long black braided hair, and sashes made from beads. The faces are very clever and filled with much personality. Beads create their eyes and mouths, their noses are sculpted and added on. The front of the outfits (whether dresses and shirts) have lovely, bright-colored beadwork. This sculpture has five figures made in the traditional manner. They are built around a wire frame so can be posed a little. Each figure's beaded shirt design is different than his four brothers (see photos).  Each guy's head ware is also distinct. Four of them have fur/hide head ware (authentic skins) and the other has feathers and beads.  The drum is open on each side and leather is stretched over the openings and laced on with fine leather strips. The drum can be played with a person's figure only is fragile so not recommended. smile.
This is a vintage sculpture that will add much personality to any American Indian collection or brighten up a space of its' own.  The artistry is perfect. Each guy is carefully hand-crafted, sewn with tiny stitches. Even the fingers holding the sticks are wrapped around the say people hold sticks. Quite impressive! The Ottogary family is Shoshone and the five drummers represent very traditional and skilled artistry and Shoshone cultural history. Just a very fun, detailed sculpture.