Mostly known for his inlaid bears and frogs Emery Boone will occasionally throw in a mountain lion into the lineup. His stylized felines are crouching, mesmerized cats and the inlay portrays the thunderclouds that are prayed for by all desert dwellers - animal, plant and human.
Emery is from the Willie Quam family of carvers. Members include Andres, Dwight, Tyler, Eldred, Laura, Georgette and Prudencia Quam. Emery's sister is Colleen Boone, his cousins include Gabe, Gerald and Loren Burns, who all also carve today.
The eyes are inlaid of Sleeping Beauty turquoise, and the rainclouds are inlaid of turquoise and red coral. The piece is signed"E Boone Zuni" on the bottom.
If you would like to read more about the Mountain Lion's characteristics and attributes click here. And click here to hear "Mountain Lion" in Shiwi, the language of Zuni.