STONE & IRONWOOD FIGURINES BY THE SERI (COMCAAK)
The Seri live along the desert coast of the Sea of Cortez in two villages: Punta Chueca (Socaaix) and El Desemboque (Haxöl Iihom). They call themselves Comcaac. Traditionally hunters and fisherman, they fished the Gulf of California and off the islands known as Tiburon (Tahejöc) and San Esteban (Cofteecöl). Additional foodstuffs were gathered from the desert surrounding their villages, including fruit from the cardon cactus.
Competition from Mexican commercial fishing operations has seriously impacted their fishing and nearly decimated the turtle population that once helped sustain the Seri.
Their baskets or hataal are woven of haat or torote, also known as limberbush or jatropha cuneata. The red-brown color comes from the inner bark of the root of the heepol, white ratany (kraneria grayi) plant. The black now used is an aniline dye. Their beautiful, strong basketry work can be found in our "More Baskets" Gallery.
They traditionally used ironwood for such objects bowls, spoons and rasps but beginning in the 1960s, began carving sea animals. Jose Astorga was the first carver. In recent decades competition from Mexican wood-working shops with power tools and the decimation of the ironwood trees by charcoal-makers has all but eliminated the craft. One notable carver, Solario Martinez, is carving out of stone he hand quarries. (see bottom of this page)
Selected References:
The Seris. By David Burckhalter
Among Turtle Hunters & Basket Makers: Adventures with the Seri Indians. David Burckhalter
The Seri Indians of Sonora Mexico. Bernice Johnston
People of the desert and sea: ethnobotany of the Seri Indians. Richard Felger and Mary Moser
Singing the Turtles to Sea: The Comcáac (Seri) Art and Science of Reptiles. Gary Nabhan
The quail is by Rosa Julia Lopez. It is 10 inches and $70. The shark is made of a lighter color piece of ironwood. Carved by Manuel Romero, it is 10.5 inches long and SOLD. Another shark by Manuel Romero. 11 inches and $120. Last is a horseshoe crab by Miguel Estrella. 7.5 inches and $70. SOLD (All in Tucson).
Three sea animals by Manuel Romero. The sea turtle has amazing wood grain and is 5.75 inches long and $100. The whale measures 7.5 inches and $100. Last is a Manta Ray. It is 7” and SOLD (ALL IN TUCSON)
More carvings by Manuel Romero..The whale is 7.5 inches and $100. This ssssnake is 9.5 inches and $100. The shark is 9 inches long and $100. This quail is a bit lighter in color. 6.25 inches and $80. (ALL IN TUCSON)
Manta ray by Manuel Romero. 7 inches and SOLD. The sea turtle is also by Manuel Romero. 7 inches and $80. The snake is also by Manuel Romero. 12.5 inches and $100. A whale by Rosa Julia Lopez, this one is 6 inches long and $50. (ALL IN TUCSON)
A sleek whale carved by Francisca Romero. It is 6 inches long. $50. (SANTA FE)
Left to right: A dolphin by Nacho Barrett measuring just over 4.5 inches long, $40. The second dolphin is by Francisca Romero. This one is 7 inches long and $60. (These two are in SANTA FE) A sea turtle by Manuel Romero. 6 inches and SOLD. (TUCSON). A manta ray by Manuel Romero. 8.5 inches and SOLD. (TUCSON)
SOLARIO MARTINEZ
He -with his family- is the only Seri currently carving in stone rather than ironwood. He walks into the Sierra de los Cirios Mountains where he mines the stone with a pickaxe and carries it out in a back pack. Once home, using chisel, hacksaw and a variety of files he fashions birds, seals, turtles…the full range of wildlife known to the Seri.
A lizard just under 5 inches long,. SOLD Seal carved of soapstone by Manuel Monroy, 3 by 2.5 inches $30, stone seal 3 by 2.5. $35.
