Mounted on driftwood collected by my father from Buffalo Bison near Cody, Wyoming in the mid-1970s. The blesbok or blesbuck is a subspecies of the bontebok antelope endemic to South Africa, Eswatini and Namibia. It has a distinctive white face and forehead which inspired the name, because bles is the Afrikaans word for a blaze such as one might see on the forehead of a horse.
“Vishnu” was chosen because the piece has the presence of a guardian: strong, watchful, and ceremonial. In Hindu tradition, Vishnu is known as the preserver, a deity associated with protection, balance, and the restoration of order. The owl charm adds a layer of wisdom and mystery, while the steampunk elements suggest time, mechanism, and cosmic balance. Together, the title reflects a being that feels ancient, protective, and quietly powerful