Between the front paws of this mountain lion is a snack that it is holding tightly. Carved by Rickson Kallestewa, it has his signature eyes toward the top of its head. The stone is a lovely brown with almost burgundy highlights and may be a stone that is found around Zuni Pueblo. We love how the tail wraps around the side of its body to the front. The paws, nostrils, and mouth are detailed. It feels very good in the hand.
Size: 1.75" H x 3.5" L x 1.25" W
In Zuni Pueblo, mountain lions are the guardians of the north, which is where wisdom lives. They are sleek hunters who are primarily solitary predators, and in Zuni, they are the leaders of all of the hunting animals. Full of grace, they move through life silently and with great power until they want you to hear them.
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.