Sculptures Gallery-Robert Walkers West

Puckshinwa “Shawnee War Chief”

Puckshinwa, meaning “alights from flying”, was a Shawnee War Chief of the Kispoko during Pontiac’s Rebellion.

Pucksinewah was father to Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the United States onto Native American lands. A persuasive orator, Tecumseh traveled widely, forming a Native American Confederacy and promoting intertribal unity. Even though his efforts to unite Native Americans ended with his death in the War of 1812, he became an iconic folk hero in American, Indigenous, and Canadian popular history.

Puckshinwa “Shawnee War Chief”

Puckshinwa, meaning “alights from flying”, was a Shawnee War Chief of the Kispoko during Pontiac’s Rebellion.

Pucksinewah was father to Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief and warrior who promoted resistance to the expansion of the United States onto Native American lands. A persuasive orator, Tecumseh traveled widely, forming a Native American Confederacy and promoting intertribal unity. Even though his efforts to unite Native Americans ended with his death in the War of 1812, he became an iconic folk hero in American, Indigenous, and Canadian popular history.

1. “Counting Coupe” 
   • Description:Among the Plains Indians of North America, counting coupe is the warrior tradition of winning prestige against an enemy in battle. It is one of the traditional ways of showing bravery in the face of an enemy and involves intimidating him, and, it is hoped, persuading him to admit defeat, without having to kill him. If the coupe is considered worthy by the tribe elders, the warrior is awarded an “Eagle Feather”.

     This Sculpture is of a warrior riding back into camp after stealing four horses. Maybe he will get an “Eagle Feather”.

   • Historical Context: Among the Plains Indians of North America, "Counting Coup is the warrior tradition of winning prestige against an enemy in battle. It is one of the traditional ways of showing bravery in the face of an enemy and involves intimidating him, and, it is hoped, persuading him to admit defeat, without having to kill him. These victories may then be remembered, recorded, and recounted as part of the community's oral, written, or pictorial histories.
   • Medium: Two-part epoxy with a Faux Bronze finish, mounted on a 12-inch circular base that rotates which allows the sculpture to be easily turned.
   • Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 12 inches.

1. “Bison Bull with an Attitude”
   • Description: This sculpture captures the spirit of the American bison, a majestic creature that faced immense challenges after the Civil War. The combination of factors like guns, railroads, and commercial activity led to widespread buffalo hunting. Buffalo hides were highly sought after, and their leather was used in factories.
   • Historical Context: Hunters like Buffalo Bill Cody advocated for bison protection, but President Ulysses S. Grant didn’t sign protective legislation. Taxidermist Hornaday witnessed the devastating impact firsthand and began efforts to conserve the species.
   • Medium: Two-part epoxy with a Faux Bronze finish, mounted on a 12-inch circular wooden base.
   • Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 12 inches.

“One Damn Thing After Another”

In Yellowstone National Park, Wolves are more successful killing elk than bison. However, in late winter when bison were vulnerable because of poor condition or of bison that were injured or young, wolves learned to kill bison.

In this sculpture, considering the wolf being trampled, and the one being gored, it would appear that the outcome is far from certain.

“The tribes of the Dakota before European contact in the 1600 lived in the region around Lake Superior. In this forest environment, they lived by hunting, fishing, and gathering wild rice. They also grew some corn, but their locale was near the limit of where corn could be grown.”

European expansion in the east pushed the Lakota west onto the Great Plains in the mid- to late-17th century.

This is when the Lakota began to domesticate the horse which was a major change to the way they defined themselves. They became more nomadic as they followed the great bison herds that roamed the Great plains

This sculpture is of a Lakota Chief, is made of polymer clays and the overall size is 23 X 16 X 16.

“The Chase”

This woodcarving was carved from a single wild cherry tree. The trunk was sawed into 5 inch planks, kiln dried, surfaced, then reassembled into a 14 X 16 X 24 inch carving block

The actual carving began in July of 1995, and was completed in early November of that year.

I entered the carving in the Dayton Woodcarving Show, it was accepted, and won a blue ribbon in the competition.

"Catch of the Day"

The American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a majestic bird of prey and the national symbol of the United States. Known for its striking white head and tail feathers, the bald eagle is a powerful and skilled hunter, particularly adept at fishing.

Bald eagles have eyesight that is four to eight times sharper than that of humans. This incredible vision allows them to spot fish swimming beneath the water’s surface from great heights.

Bald eagles often hunt by soaring high above water bodies, scanning for fish. Once they spot a target, they dive at high speeds, extending their talons forward to grab the fish just below the water’s surface.

This sculpture is of a Bald Eagle at the moment it snatches a fish from the water.

The piece is the original and sculpted in two-part epoxy, is approximately 16 inches high with a radius of 14 inches, and has a built in turntable so it can be rotated without sliding it on your furnature.

Scientists don't know what characteristics bald eagles look for in potential mates or how the birds assess each other's reproductive potential.

It's known, however, that bald eagle pairs engage in a number of courtship rituals as they build their bond.

The most famous and recognizable of these rituals is the "cartwheel courtship flight," in which two bald eagles will fly up high, lock talons and then get into a cartwheel spin as they fall toward the ground, breaking apart at the last minute.

This piece is sculpted in two-part epoxy, is approximately 18 inches tall, and its radius is 19 inches. It has a turntable built into it so that it can be rotated easily.

Back in the late nineties, I was into wood carving, "Big Time"!!! "Fox Cubs" is one of a very few carvings that still remain in inventory. It is carved from the wood that "The Chase" was. This might be your last chance to purchase a Robert Walker original wood carving.