This is another piece I found at a local thrift store today. It's 9.5" tall, heavy(!) and made of bronze or brass? It has BRAZIL in front of the feet & XICO ARTESAO behind the feet. And in the middle on both sides of the feet themselves is: M ((outside left foot) S or G (in middle next to right foot) RS (outside right foot) I googled Xico Artesao and a link came up (even with the little mark over the last A like on statue) that was in a different language but when I translated it I got the below: (Is this by the artist below? Or a souvenir from a Brazil museum maybe?) - Any help would be Greatly appreciated!! PS - PHOTOS ARE AFTER TRANSLATION! Francisco de Assis Rocha, the Xico Artisan, a native of the municipality of São João Evangelista, Norte de Minas, an official in the official press, will participate in a collective exhibition in Dortmund, West Germany, leading, in his spontaneity to create naïve and rustic forms, the expression of his figures and the perception of the environment in which he lives. The son of a sitiante, a seasmith and a blacksmith, he began working as a boy, helping his father in rural activities: screwing horses, driving oxen and in his spare time, he plays with carnations and horseshoes. Then he studied in seminary, the big city, the official press. His life is also the trajectory of his work of art, and, as in life, a constant search for improvement. THE TRAJECTORY OF ART From the observation of trinkets produced by the "hippies", as artisan, he began his work in 1968, choosing as raw material the horseshoe harpsichord, in original size and quality (7cm/iron), the same toy instruments as a child. At the beginning of the phase of rural animals (ox, dog, duck, cat, etc.) it portrays childhood. Then the search for God and human improvement, begins to work with carnations of special size and quality (15cm/bronze), translating faith acquired in the parents' homes and in the seminary, reaching the religious phase that has this predominance. The four crucified (Jesus, St. Peter, St. Dimas and St. Andrew): the nativity scene/family (St Joseph, Our Lady, Child Jesus); Via Sacra (picture/flagellation, Jesus receives the Cross, the three fallen of Jesus, the ordeal with thieves, Our Lady of Piety); the Saints (Michael, Francis and Sebastian); liturgical crosses (Processional Cross, Chalice, Ambula, Custody, Baculums); symbols (Crosses of caravaca, malta, Egyptian, swastika, Latin, cardinals and martyrs); Crussifixes (30cm to 3 meters). In the big city, appears the mundane phase: decorations (chandelier, sandand, chandelier); and finally art phase of the arts: literature (Don Quixote, justice, archer, brainha, vicking warrior, pink panther); orchestra (conductor, guitarist, cellist, trumpeter, clarinetist, piper). THE REWARDED WORK Xico Artisan makes his art on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Lately he provides service to FEBEM, during the day as an instructor of graphic arts, at night he is busy in the theater of the Official Press, where he manifests, once again, the environment in which he lives. Being the official press a house of culture (newspaper, editorial publications, literary supplement, theater, poets, writers, artists, actor and actors, composers and musicians) all participate in their world. At the invitation of German Werner Korting, coordinator of a collective exhibition "Art in the Third World", next May in the city of Dortmund, West Germany, Xico Artisan will participate with his last work, the orchestra, composed of eight pieces. The artist Xico Artisan also has pieces in several countries: Germany, Spain, Holland, Austria, Philippines and the Vatican, with a Crucified Christ and two candlesticks that were delivered to Pope John Paul II during his visit to Belo Horizonte, as a gift from the children of Minas Gerais. This is Xico Artisan, now an internationally known artist, who ceased only to be an apprentice cowboy in the interior of Minas Gerais, but who still retains the simple way of good people, because it understits his victories in faith, humility and persistence, greater forces of great men. ART OF XICO IN GERMANY Xico Artisan, born in the swidden, which was once an ox lamp and horse horse shoedealer – and in the few hours off he played with carnations and horseshoes – projects today internationally the name of Minas and the official press, where he works. He was invited among several artists from various countries to exhibit his works in "Art in the Third World" in Germany and sends there his sculptures, all worked in harpsichord, reflecting in each of them his humility as a winner and man of faith. XICO ARTISAN CREATES STATUETTE FOR SARNEY A bronze statuette, inspired by the symbol created by cartoonist Oldack Esteves to identify the news about the plan to stabilize the economy, will be sent through the STATE of MINAS to President José Sarney, on behalf of the people of Minas Gerais. The work is a creation of the artist Francisco de Assis Rocha, the "Xico Artisan", who makes works using carnations to screw horses. Xico, a miner from São João Evangelista, was inspired by the knight of the SEAL of the STATE OF MINES "because he represents President Sarney, the protector of economic measures. The helmet and shield represent the knight's prosethis against his enemies and the double-edged sword symbolizes the justice of men, which will ensure the success of the program", he said. Xico Artisan, sculptor since 1968, participates in a collective exhibition of Third World artists in Dortmund, Germany. He has sculptures in six countries in Europe and has already presented Pope John Paul II with one of his creations. XICO ARTISAN EXPORTS HIS ART Xico Artisan or Francisco de Assis Rocha, professional training instructor of the FEBEM center of graphic arts, from May, will participate, with 8 pieces, of exhibition of third world countries to be held in Dortmund, Germany. The invitation was made by Werner Korting who commissioned him the trophy to award the best European musician of 1985. Xico has plays in countries such as the United States, Philippines, Austria, Holland, Spain and the Vatican.
This guy? I don't see why not. His email address is on his blog; you can always contact him and ask. Debora
Here's a work of his for sale. https://produto.mercadolivre.com.br...ronze-cruz-com-cravos-artista-xico-arteso-_JM Debora
