Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

Large Tobey Ceramic Signed American Southwestern Modern Buffalo Sculpture

About the Item

A uniquely brilliant American ceramic sculpture capturing the essence of a buffalo, in southwestern modern style by celebrated husband and wife artists Gene (1945-2006) & Rebecca Tobey (b.1948). This large sculpture dates to the late 20th century, decorated in rich polychrome design depicting lizard and dessert mountainous / southwestern landscape in mixed media glazed and matte finishes. Reticulated design to buffalo's back. Open panels revealing red glazed interior add depth and dimension, raised and incised exterior decoration. Signed, "Tobey" to the foot. Bottoms of feet covered in soft felt. Truly a remarkable artistic example. circa 1990s. Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dimensions (approx): 21" High, 21.5” Wide, 12” Deep --- About the artist: The collaboration began with Rebecca acting as assistant on Gene’s sculptures, which evolved from dishes and practical ceramics to highly stylized animals. “She was my glaze technician,” Tobey explained, meaning the person who applies the glazes before firing. The sculptures in the mid-1980s were an interesting combination of techniques. Gene Tobey first made a mold of an animal and cut out sections to be superimposed on other parts of the animal. Then, using a steel stylus he engraved designs. Rebecca Tobey did the glazing, imbuing the sculptures with color before the final firing. Over the months, however, Rebecca Tobey slowly began to develop her own techniques and her own ideas about the kind of surfaces that would enhance the three-dimensional qualities of the sculptures. “In summer of 1987 Gene Tobey had an opening at Presdon Gallery,” she recalls, “I wanted to use colored clay slips instead of glazes. Glazes are chemicals that melt and bleed. They don’t have sharp delineations. I wanted a sharp, crisp finish.” Rebecca Tobey coated sections of two sculptures with clay slip. They were the first in the show to sell. Another was made for a show of fourteen pieces in Vail – and again it was the first to sell. It was magic. “I realized I needed new thoughts and different hands to make different pieces,” said Gene Tobey. Once he realized that Rebecca had moved firmly – and permanently – from a technician into an equally creative artist, Gene called his galleries and instructed them to change the credit to “Gene & Rebecca Tobey.” One or two delayed, resisting the idea of naming two people, but now the artistic marriage is etched into each piece. In Gene’s words, “There are times I don’t like being called an artist because I don’t know the parameters of the term. We’re dealing with our own aesthetic and having fun with it. There’s always something new, and the experiment goes on. I look at Rebecca’s work and feel privileged, not jealous. It’s a blessing when two people work together, not compete but combine. Evolving and changing became our focus. One person takes a step and the other has to take a step to catch up.” In the 1990’s, the Tobeys began to work in bronze, continuing their tradition of stylized animals. Unfortunately, Gene Tobey lost his battle with leukemia in 2006. He is a man who will be missed for the contributions that he made to the people around him by giving of his great heart as well as his talent. Rebecca, devastated but strong, continues the legacy of their spirited work in memory of her late husband. In 2010 Rebecca returned to creating in ceramics for the first time in 15 years. The two had created a style of art that is unique and distinctive. Because of its ingenious simplification of sculptural imagery, the Tobey design is instantly recognizable, and will remain so under Rebecca’s able hand.
  • Creator:
    Tobey (Artist)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 21 in (53.34 cm)Width: 21.5 in (54.61 cm)Depth: 12 in (30.48 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Ceramic,Paint,Glazed,Polychromed
  • Place of Origin:
    United States
  • Period:
    Late 20th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1990s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Forney, TX
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5977227001712

More From This Seller

View All
Rare American Industrial Modern Art Mary Shaffer Signed Glass Bronze Sculpture
By Mary Shaffer
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and spectacular freestanding American Post-Modernist industrial slumped glass and bronze sculpture by Mary Shaffer (United States, b....
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Rare American Industrial Modern Art Mary Shaffer Signed Glass Bronze Sculpture

Rare American Industrial Modern Art Mary Shaffer Signed Glass Bronze Sculpture

$29,500
Sergio Bustamante Signed Man At Window Ceramic Sculpture
By Sergio Bustamante
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce vintage ceramic art sculpture by legendary 20th century Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante (b.1949). Fantastical surrealist style hand pa...
Category

20th Century Mexican Post-Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Earthenware

Sergio Bustamante Signed Man At Window Ceramic Sculpture

Sergio Bustamante Signed Man At Window Ceramic Sculpture

$3,995
Large Natural Teak Root Wood Sculpture
Located in Forney, TX
A most impressive large single piece of sculptural carved free-form organic teak rootwood becomes a writhing, wispy, whimsical wonder of craftsmanship and artistry. This naturalistic...
Category

Late 20th Century Minimalist Natural Specimens

Materials

Teak

Large Natural Teak Root Wood Sculpture

Large Natural Teak Root Wood Sculpture

$1,650
Monumental Emile Louis Picault Signed Egyptian Revival Pharaoh Sculptures, Pair
By Émile Louis Picault
Located in Forney, TX
A spectacular matched pair of large and extremely rare Emile Louis Picault cold painted bronze sculptures from the late 19th century. Exquisitely handcrafted in France, circa 189...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Egyptian Revival Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Monumental Emile Louis Picault Signed Egyptian Revival Pharaoh Sculptures, Pair

Monumental Emile Louis Picault Signed Egyptian Revival Pharaoh Sculptures, Pair

$38,800 / set
19th Century Auguste Nicolas Cain Signed Bronze Tazza Sculpture
By Auguste Nicholas Cain
Located in Forney, TX
A very fine Auguste Nicolas Cain (French, 1822-1894) bronze sculpture depicting a crowing rooster perched atop naturalistic base of stylized log o...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Rustic Animal Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Auguste Nicolas Cain Signed Bronze Tazza Sculpture

19th Century Auguste Nicolas Cain Signed Bronze Tazza Sculpture

$6,750
Mid-Century Modern Carved Giltwood Figure on Lucite Sculpture
By Salvador Dalí­
Located in Forney, TX
A fabulous mid-century modern hand carved giltwood sculpture, possibly American, depicting a surrealist nude figure of a man with block head lying in a prostrate position, mounted on...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Lucite, Giltwood

Mid-Century Modern Carved Giltwood Figure on Lucite Sculpture

Mid-Century Modern Carved Giltwood Figure on Lucite Sculpture

$2,250

You May Also Like

Large buffalo sculpture, stoneware
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a late 19th century or early 20th century glazed stoneware sculpture of an American buffalo… this is a large and heavy sculpture, 27 1/2 inches long 20 1/2 inches high and a...
Category

Antique 1890s American Animal Sculptures

Materials

Stoneware

Large buffalo sculpture, stoneware

Large buffalo sculpture, stoneware

$7,500
Large Signed Abstract Ceramic Sculpture
Located in Dallas, TX
Creative abstract ceramic sculpture with many layers, hollow core, polished glaze. Stamped M$.
Category

20th Century North American Organic Modern Abstract Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Large Signed Abstract Ceramic Sculpture

Large Signed Abstract Ceramic Sculpture

$2,520 Sale Price
40% Off
Large Modern Giraffe Sculpture, American, Mid- Century
By Manuel Carbonell
Located in Rochester, NY
A large and early sand cast aluminum Modernist sculpture of a giraffe by Cuban American artist Manuel Carbonell. Pedestal included. Height is 73” with base. Presented by Joseph Da...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Animal Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Large Modern Giraffe Sculpture, American, Mid- Century

Large Modern Giraffe Sculpture, American, Mid- Century

$18,900
Large Carved Wood Sculpture of a Water Buffalo
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Nice patina, large, fine carved sculpture of water buffalo. The wood seems to be black walnut.
Category

20th Century Unknown Animal Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Large Carved Wood Sculpture of a Water Buffalo

Large Carved Wood Sculpture of a Water Buffalo

$950
Large Buffalo Skull with Native American Foot Print
Located in Asheville, NC
This Extra Large buffalo skull features black horns decorated with two red foot prints. It skull has a natural rustic beauty. The red animal footprints o...
Category

Late 20th Century Animal Sculptures

Large Buffalo Skull with Native American Foot Print

Large Buffalo Skull with Native American Foot Print

$1,575 / set
American Golden Eagle Sculpture Large Painted Plaster Figure Signed
Located in Wilton, CT
Large painted plaster eagle sculpture, circa mid-20th century. Excellent rendering of the majestic bird perched on a rock outcrop with crisp detail. Sign...
Category

Mid-20th Century American American Classical Animal Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

American Golden Eagle Sculpture Large Painted Plaster Figure Signed

American Golden Eagle Sculpture Large Painted Plaster Figure Signed

$1,495

Recently Viewed

View All

More Ways To Browse

Mid Century Modern Southwestern
Clay Chair
Polychrome Chair
Buffalo Artist
Heart Red Chair
Southwestern Decorative Objects
Ceramic Lizard
Large Ceramic Santa
Mexican Painted Chair
Vintage Heart Mold
Animal Feet Chair
Bronze Rebecca
Southwestern Chair
Lizard Chair
Tobey Furniture
Gene Rebecca Tobey
Gene Tobey
Rebecca Tobey
View All Popular Animal Sculptures Searches