ANCIENT HUNTER

Monumental Bronze, 13.5’H x 6.9’L x 6.6’D, Limited Ed. of 20 – Created 2008

The symbolic and mystical importance of eagle feathers to the American Indian has created many tales of bravery. Among these is the story of the eagle catcher. According to legend, a brave warrior who earned the honor and right through coup and battle would wear a sacred war bonnet adorned with eagle feathers. The eagle, revered as a sacred bird, was believed to carry prayers from the earth to the Great Spirit, and its feathers denoted a warrior’s rank, position, and bravery within the tribe.

In the final sequence of Vic Payne’s eagle catcher trilogy, which began in 1996 with ‘Eagle Catcher,’ and continued with ‘Braveheart’, we encounter ‘Ancient Hunter.’ This young brave risks his life to acquire the prized eagle feathers from a worthy opponent in a fight to the death.  To achieve this feat, he must utilize strategy and a little bit of trickery, drawing upon the wisdom of past ‘Ancient Hunters.’ This monumental sculpture stands as a powerful testament to the enduring cultural and spiritual importance of the eagle in Native American lore.