The History of Zuni Fetishes
The Zuni are a Native American tribe who today are based on a reservation area in the state of New Mexico, USA. All tribes in the Southwest make use of spiritual animal carvings or “fetishes”, but the Zuni are famous for being the most skillful carvers. The use of fetishes by the Zunis dates back hundreds of years.
Fetishes are traditionally used for many purposes including healing, hunting, protection and inspiration. Zunis believe that all living creatures have a spirit. The best Zuni fetish carvers can see these spirits and carve the rock in such a way to release the spirit from the host stone. In creating the fetishes, the Zuni believe that power resides within the fetish or, more specifically, the spirit dwelling inside of the fetish; if a particular object is believed to possess power, then it is a fetish. Sometimes the spirit is so clearly visible in the Zuni Fetish that anyone can see it and that is called a concretion.
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).
Each of the animals has a different power, and the animal carved depends on the purpose for which the fetish is intended. Fetishism can be extremely complicated - each animal can have six varieties of colours representing alternate powers.
Todd Westika says, "On the hunter bear, the arrow and beads are offerings to the spirit bear. Turquoise is the colour for the West, coral is the colour for the South, yellow is the colour for the North and white is the colour for the East. The colours represent corn". Corn is the sustainer of life. Corn is important as a food staple and it is also used in different ceremonies.
Many of the fetishes have medicine bundles tied to the back of the animals, with the materials or colours used having a different meaning. Coral in the bundle represents ocean life; blue means birds; black stone represents night creatures; brown is earth and white represents winter. Some fetishes have an inlaid arrow called a lifeline or heart line to give protection or luck. Typically the heart line begins at the mouth, where breath gives life, and points to the soul indicating faith and inner strength. The bundles are offerings to spirit.
Lena Boone states, "The arrowhead on the bundles represents good luck and the sharp point wards off anything bad, protecting you. Coral and turquoise are the offering to the spirits."
It is through these beliefs and the Zuni desire to pay respect to Nature that these beautiful art forms are born.
Fetishes are traditionally used for many purposes including healing, hunting, protection and inspiration. Zunis believe that all living creatures have a spirit. The best Zuni fetish carvers can see these spirits and carve the rock in such a way to release the spirit from the host stone. In creating the fetishes, the Zuni believe that power resides within the fetish or, more specifically, the spirit dwelling inside of the fetish; if a particular object is believed to possess power, then it is a fetish. Sometimes the spirit is so clearly visible in the Zuni Fetish that anyone can see it and that is called a concretion.
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).
Each of the animals has a different power, and the animal carved depends on the purpose for which the fetish is intended. Fetishism can be extremely complicated - each animal can have six varieties of colours representing alternate powers.
Todd Westika says, "On the hunter bear, the arrow and beads are offerings to the spirit bear. Turquoise is the colour for the West, coral is the colour for the South, yellow is the colour for the North and white is the colour for the East. The colours represent corn". Corn is the sustainer of life. Corn is important as a food staple and it is also used in different ceremonies.
Many of the fetishes have medicine bundles tied to the back of the animals, with the materials or colours used having a different meaning. Coral in the bundle represents ocean life; blue means birds; black stone represents night creatures; brown is earth and white represents winter. Some fetishes have an inlaid arrow called a lifeline or heart line to give protection or luck. Typically the heart line begins at the mouth, where breath gives life, and points to the soul indicating faith and inner strength. The bundles are offerings to spirit.
Lena Boone states, "The arrowhead on the bundles represents good luck and the sharp point wards off anything bad, protecting you. Coral and turquoise are the offering to the spirits."
It is through these beliefs and the Zuni desire to pay respect to Nature that these beautiful art forms are born.