DEE FLAGG bas relief “Cochise”

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DCOTTSDALE’S BEST Dee Flagg (1924-1999)

Dee Flagg may be the leading candidate for any woodcarver’s Hall of Fame. His seventy year career is littered with awards and wood chips too many to count. As a youth, he was told “go to Hollywood.” And he did! He engratiated the Old West cowboy actors, all of whom collected Dee’s enchanting carved cowboys. They reveled in his Billy-the-Kid and Jesse James figures. His 1914 La France fire engine was parked in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater for five years, moving hourly. Flagg’s carvings grace collections of Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and William S. Hart. Will Rogers collected Flagg’s carvings, so Dee carved a rendition of Rogers himself. Flagg was a character!

Top award winner, many Best in Show. Many magazine and newspaper articles. Featured in Arizona Highways numerous times.

Here, in his western tradition, Flagg portrays the infamous “Cochise,” one of Dee’s favorite subjects. Many early photos depict this Apache leader, so Dee made every effort to create an honorable, accurate and proudful portrait of Cochise.

Photos tell the story. Signed. ca. 1969. Mint condition.