(Wyoming/New Mexico, born 1960)

Braveheart, 1997, edition 33/50, signed "Vic Payne", patinated and cold-painted bronze with wood rotating base 48-3/8 in.

Note: "The mystical importance of eagle feathers to Indian lore has created many rich tales of bravery.  A warrior obtained a feather to represent each coup or victory. Only after 29 to 30 feathers were collected did he earn the right to face an eagle and build a bonnet from the feathers he won.

Eagles were considered a challenging and dangerous opponent.  They were quite hard to catch and even harder to hold on to without substantial bodily injury with their large, razor sharp talons prepared for the fight.

A brave had to risk much to acquire his eagle feathers, but was eager for the long awaited honor this would bring.  It was not only a great achievement, but demonstration of bravery and skill to come out the victor in this fight to the death.

Myth tells of one such way to obtain the highly regarded eagle feathers for a war bonnet.  With this rarely used method, a brave had to utilize some strategy and a little trickery...for eagles were known to descend upon a wolf eating on a kill and challenge for the right of the feast.

An eagle has no qualms fighting with a wolf, thus under the guise of a wolf, crouched under a hide, a brave could lure an eagle in close enough to attempt this incredible feat.  A hand to talon battle for supremacy ensued and showed the depth of the warrior's 'Braveheart'." Vic Payne