Brother Deer

The faces of three deer appear on the temple and forehead of this intriguing skull. Surrounding them are stylized stars and six-sided peyote buds. By Higinio Hernandez Carrillo, the motifs express some of the cosmology of Mexico's native Huichol people. Brother of the Huichol, Kawuyomaire is a blue deer who travels the heavens as a guide and guardian. He can be heard by the shaman, and his presence is perceptible through the peyote. The artisan selects a palette of subtle beauty, combining tiny seed beads in white, deep lavender and peach with espresso brown. He applies them one by one to the figurine, first covered in beeswax.

Do not expose this piece to direct heat or light, as it could soften the wax adhesive and thus loosen the beads.