Dave McGary (American, 1958-2013) Blessing of the Bear Bronze with polychrome patina 25-1/4 inches (64.1 cm) high on 1-3/4 inch (4.4 cm) wood base Ed. 24/60 Inscribed along base with artist's thumbprint seal: 24/60 Dave McGary PROVENANCE: Private collection, Batavia, Illinois. Dave McGary was renowned for the exceptional realism of his bronze sculptures. His meticulous process began with a steel wire armature, over which he modeled successive layers of muscle, skin, and clothing in clay. Following casting, carefully applied patinas and painted details brought beads, shields, feathers, and garments to life. Working with fine brushes, McGary combined anatomical precision with richly articulated surfaces, giving bronze the appearance of materials as varied as leather, cloth, and skin. Research and consultation with tribal elders and historians informed his efforts to convey both individual character and cultural identity. Created as part of his Warrior Series, Blessing of the Bear presents two figures engaged in a ceremonial interaction. At right, a figure wearing an extensive feather headdress raises a feather fan above his companion, whose lowered head suggests solemn attention. The latter holds an elaborate arrangement of feathers incorporating a bear's head. The upward extension of one figure's arm balances the quiet, inward posture of the other. Together, these poses suggest an exchange grounded in reverence and spiritual purpose. McGary organizes the complex composition through repeated feather forms, cascading fringe, and carefully delineated passages of beadwork. Blue and red accents distinguish the garments, while variations in surface texture articulate the differences among skin, fur, fabric, and ornament. The sweeping arc of feathers across the foreground visually connects the figures and counterbalances the vertical movement of the raised fan. Despite its abundance of detail, the sculpture maintains a clear focus on the relationship between its participants. In Blessing of the Bear, McGary's technical precision supports a narrative of ceremony and human connection, giving the bronze both a compelling physical presence and a measured dignity. HID12401132022 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

Private collection, Batavia, Illinois.

Dust in recesses.