Cheyenne Dancer is a limited-edition bronze sculpture by renowned Western artist Harvey Rattey. Created in 1989 and standing approximately 5 inches tall, the piece depicts a Cheyenne tribal dancer in dynamic motion, captured with remarkable detail despite its intimate scale. Harvey Rattey’s artistic legacy includes numerous public monuments, awards, and memberships, but perhaps is best reflected in the lifelike storytelling present in sculptures like Cheyenne Dancer.
 
The sculpture is cast in bronze using the traditional lost-wax method and mounted on a polished wood base. It is part of a limited series (this example is hand-numbered 84/500), produced at Rattey’s own Bridger Foundry & Gallery in Bozeman, Montana. The artist’s signature and edition number are engraved on the base, and the artwork remains in excellent condition.
 
Details:
Artist: Harvey Rattey (1938–2015)
Title: Cheyenne Dancer
Year: 1989
Edition: 84/500 (Limited edition, hand-numbered)
Material: Bronze cast on a polished wood base
Dimensions: ~5 inches tall (miniature scale)
Foundry: Bridger Foundry & Gallery, Bozeman, Montana (artist’s own foundry)
Signature: Signed “Harvey Rattey” and numbered on base
Condition: Excellent
 
About the Artist – Harvey Rattey
 
Harvey Rattey was an internationally acclaimed Western and wildlife sculptor, as well as an enrolled member of the Little Shell Band of Chippewa (Native American).
 
Born and raised on a cattle ranch in northern Montana, Rattey’s upbringing immersed him in the cowboy and Native American heritage that would later fuel his artangusauxiliary.com. He spent his early years rodeo calf-roping and living the ranching lifestyle, giving him authentic insight into Western themes. Rattey dedicated over 30 years as a full-time artist, gaining numerous honors and commissions for his bronze sculptures.
 
His works have been collected by museums and notable patrons – even the U.S. Pentagon acquired his pieces as official gifts for foreign dignitaries, and celebrities like basketball legend Larry Bird have purchased his art.
 
Rattey’s contribution to Western and Native American art is significant. He is celebrated for realistically portraying the people, animals, and history of the American West with empathy and vitality. While he sculpted everything from cowboys to wildlife, his greatest artistic passion was depicting Native American figures and their way of life. He focused on scenes spanning from the final days of the Plains Indians’ nomadic era through their contemporary lives, endeavoring to capture historical moments and cultural spirit in bronze.
 
Rattey’s style remained firmly representational – he believed in authentic detail over abstraction. “The images of my people are clear and realistic mental scenes. I feel it’s important to depict these images authentically in my work,” Rattey explained, “My sculptures capture the essence of moments from history for viewers to enjoy and ponder.” 
 
This dedication to accuracy and storytelling has made his work resonate deeply with collectors and Western art enthusiasts, earning him a place among the respected Western artists of his time. Rattey and his wife, fellow sculptor Pamela Harr, established Bridger Bronze Gallery and their own bronze foundry in Bozeman, Montana in the 1970s. They later relocated their home and studio to Glendive, eastern Montana, but continued to produce art that “realistically captured the spirit of the people and animals that have made Montana a special place”. 
 
One notable aspect of Cheyenne Dancer is that it was cast at Rattey’s own foundry. Harvey Rattey and Pamela Harr started their own bronze casting foundry in Bozeman, Montana (Bridger Foundry & Gallery) in the late 1970s, ensuring they could oversee the production quality of their art. Every bronze emerging from their foundry was produced via the meticulous lost-wax casting process, yielding fine detail and durability. By casting Cheyenne Dancer in-house, Rattey was able to maintain a high level of craftsmanship and fidelity to his vision.
 
Cheyenne Dancer is part of a limited edition release, highlighting its collectibility. Only a fixed number of castings were made – this particular piece is number 84 out of 500, as marked on the base. Limited editions like this assure buyers of the artwork’s rarity; once the edition is complete, no further castings are produced from the mold. (In fact, Rattey created a small, 4-part series of Native American dancer sculptures, each in limited quantity.) Round out the missing piece in your collection or start a quest for all four of them!
 
The sculpture bears Rattey’s engraved signature and the edition number, confirming its authenticity and place in the edition. The bronze has a handsome patina and is mounted on a polished wooden base, which includes a title/nameplate. The overall presentation exudes quality, from the foundry’s casting to the finishing touches.
 
Collectors will appreciate that the artist’s direct involvement in the casting process often enhances the piece’s value and integrity. Owning a bronze cast by Bridger Foundry means the sculpture was made under the watchful eye of the artist himself, rather than mass-produced elsewhere. This piece has been preserved in excellent condition since 1989, with a rich patina and no significant wear – important factors for both aesthetic enjoyment and long-term value.
 
Sources: Harvey Rattey Biography; Bridger Bronze Gallery – Native American Dancers series; Native Hope (Cheyenne culture and Sun Dance); Bronze casting historybronzehound.blogspot.com; American Angus Auxiliary – About the Artistan; Bronze Hound Art Blog (Rattey’s style commentary).