Edwin Willard Deming (1860–1942), an artist best known for his depiction of scenes of Native Americans in the Southwestern U.S, among whom he lived for a part of each year for most of his life, and by whom he was given the name "Eight Bears," which became the title of his autobiography. One of Deming's such paintings was reproduced as a U.S. postage stamp.
A friend and peer of Remington, Deming also created a series of tabletop bronze sculptures of bears. I know that a limited edition of this specific sculpture and several others were produced posthumously by Fenn Bronze in the early 1970s, but this one is signed (in Deming's writing), dated on the underside, 1936, and made of a pinkish clay or plaster, which seems to have been waxed, making me believe this may be the original from which his bronzes were made. The surface it is the perfect sort of nude color, white in spots and a little darker on noses and ears, amplifying a sense of bareness (as well as bearness!) In addition, E.W. Deming is impressed on the rear side of the sculpture. Post facto someone has made a note on the underside: "By artist who designed Indian US stamp."
I really have no sense of the value of this, but it is a really wonderful little piece, and one of my very favorite things I've found! 2 3/8" tall x 2 3/8" wide x 2 3/4" deep. Excellent condition.
