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ZUNI Fetishes
Handmade Works of Art Created by the Zuni Tribe
Small Animal Sculptures
Zuni fetishes are small animal sculptures that have been created by Native American Zuni tribespeople for over a thousand years, and their use is as prevalent today as ever. Zuni artisans are known for their skillful ancient stone art. The fetishes are used as personal charms, talismans, and amulets. The carvers honour the animal's special "medicine" as a reminder to summon within themselves the animal's attributes. The Zunis feel that it is the "spirit" within the fetish that contain the value, not the object itself.
The fetish forms include: bears; moles; badgers; mountain lions; goats; sheep; frogs; turtles; horses; coyotes; wolves; birds and human figures. The materials used for the carvings include such traditional northern American stones as black jet, abalone, sandstone, marble, serpentine, red coral, alabaster, mother-of-pearl and turquoise (usually stabilized turquoise rather than natural as it is less fragile and easier to carve with).
Small Animal Sculptures
Zuni fetishes are small animal sculptures that have been created by Native American Zuni tribespeople for over a thousand years, and their use is as prevalent today as ever. Zuni artisans are known for their skillful ancient stone art. The fetishes are used as personal charms, talismans, and amulets. The carvers honour the animal's special "medicine" as a reminder to summon within themselves the animal's attributes. The Zunis feel that it is the "spirit" within the fetish that contain the value, not the object itself.
The fetish forms include: bears; moles; badgers; mountain lions; goats; sheep; frogs; turtles; horses; coyotes; wolves; birds and human figures. The materials used for the carvings include such traditional northern American stones as black jet, abalone, sandstone, marble, serpentine, red coral, alabaster, mother-of-pearl and turquoise (usually stabilized turquoise rather than natural as it is less fragile and easier to carve with).