Miscellaneous Fetish Carving

Justin Red Elk carved this Happy Otter from Zuni fish rock (serpentine).  It is very happy because it has a pink mussel shell fish in its mouth.  Its a bit difficult to see in the photos, but if you look carefully you can see the whiskers and paws are detailed.

Size: 1.375" H x 2" L x .5" W

Otters are water creatures that live in oceans, rivers, creeks and lakes.  The mothers float around with their babies on their bellies when they are young.  They put their food on their bellies making their bellies dining tables.  They are associated with happiness, joy, and community. 

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

This stately stagg was carved by Todd Etsate from jasper.  It has Mother of Pearl antlers and turquoise eyes.  More about deer below.

Size: 1.5" H x 1.675" L x .75" W 

Deer are sacred to some Native Americans.  Like the buffalo, they provide food, skins for clothing and pouches, hooves for rattles, antlers for weapons and art.  There are deer dances in Northern Mexico and the Southwest where the spirit of the deer enters into the bodies of the men who have been prepared to accept the deer.  When the men dance, they are no longer men.  They are deer.

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.  Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

Four joyous meerkats are holding what may be little birds in each hand.  Chris Peina carved them from antler and inlaid jet eyes.  Their faces, hands, and legs are detailed.  

Size: 1.25" H x 1.1.75" L x 1.5" W

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

Mr. Prairie Dog was carved from Mexican onyx by Alex Tsethlikai.  It has a sweetly carved face, tiny ears, detailed paws and tail, and inlaid turquoise eyes.  The offering bundle is a teal arrowhead with turquoise and red beads.  We love that prairie dogs "kiss" their closest friends and family by touching their front teeth together!

Size: 2.375" H x 1" L x .5" W

"Prairie dogs tend to be celebrated for their larger ecological virtues. In the grasslands across the central and western United States, their intricate underground colonies—called prairie dog towns—create shelter for jackrabbits, toads, and rattlesnakes. The bare patches of ground created by their grazing and burrowing attract certain insects that feed a variety of birds. And prairie dogs themselves are a key food source for everything from coyotes to hawks to endangered black-footed ferrets.

“These animals support at least 136 other species through their various activities,” said Kristy Bly, a WWF senior wildlife conservation biologist. “They’re basically the Chicken McNuggets of the grasslands.” More HERE

This Pretty Prairie dog was carved from Picasso marble by Alex Tsethlikai.  It has a sweetly carved face, tiny ears, detailed paws and tail, and inlaid turquoise eyes.  The offering bundle is a blue and green arrowhead with turquoise and red beads.  We love that prairie dogs "kiss" their closest friends and family by touching their front teeth together!

Size: 2.25" H x 1" L x .5" W

"Prairie dogs tend to be celebrated for their larger ecological virtues. In the grasslands across the central and western United States, their intricate underground colonies—called prairie dog towns—create shelter for jackrabbits, toads, and rattlesnakes. The bare patches of ground created by their grazing and burrowing attract certain insects that feed a variety of birds. And prairie dogs themselves are a key food source for everything from coyotes to hawks to endangered black-footed ferrets.

“These animals support at least 136 other species through their various activities,” said Kristy Bly, a WWF senior wildlife conservation biologist. “They’re basically the Chicken McNuggets of the grasslands.” More HERE

Louise Ponchuella carved this big boar from marble and inlaid red eyes.  The face, feet, ears, ridge of hair, and tail are all detailed.  Very cool!

Size: 1.25" H x 4.25" L x .75" W

Marvelita Phillips carved these dinosaurs and gave them bright blue turquoise eyes.  They were all carved from different shades of serpentine.  So sweet we want to pet them! 

Eggshell White: 1" H x 2.375" L x .5" W

Brown: 1" H x 2.25" L x .5" W

Tan: .875" H x 2" L x .375" W