Danette Laate

It is easy to imagine this joyful Dreamy Dolphin leaping into the air!  Danette Laate carved it from Picasso marble and it has bright turquoise eyes and ten inlaid turquoise dots.   A Sunface made from turquoise, jet, and red coral behind its dorsal fin.

Size: 1.25" H x 2.25" L x .375" W

Dolphins are some of our most joyous non-human relatives.  They are communal beings that communicate with one another and seem to do their best to communicate with humans too.  They sometimes work together to hunt and are very cooperative.  If you ever need a bit of joy, just watch a video of dolphins in the wild!

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.

Danette Laate carved this gleaming white frog from mother of pearl.  It's little!  It has an inlaid Sunface on the center of its back, four turquoise dots in the cardinal directions, and turquoise eyes.  What a sweetie!

Size: .375" H x 1.25" L x 1.25" W

Frogs begin life in the water as tadpoles, grow legs and are able to be on land or lily pads.  They go through a profound transition and are related to water and land.  Female frogs lay many eggs at once and are associated with fertility.  The frogs are known to sing before the rains come in Zuni Pueblo.  During droughts people will bury frog carvings in the Earth to invite the rain to come.

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 dolomite horned toad is happy because it is carrying the Sunface on its back along with four turquoise dots in the cardinal directions.  Zuni carver, Danette Laate, inlaid turquoise eyes and detailed the scales, the "horn" part of the neck, and the feet.  It feels very good in the hand!  More about horned toads below.

Size: 1" H x 2" L x .875" W

Horned toads are thorny lizards with a fat body and very short tail.  If they feel attacked they can puff up to look bigger and their spiky scales can make them look like too much work to eat.  They can  also shoot blood out of their eyes up to 5 feet when threatened.  If you are looking for something to symbolize nonviolent protection, the horned toad may do the trick!

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.

Danette Laate carved this lucky fish from Picasso marble and inlaid big blue eyes.  We love the big mouth!  It is very well detailed with scales and fins.

Size: 1.5" H x 1.75" L x .5" W

Danette Laate carved this lucky fish from Picasso marble and inlaid big blue eyes.  We love the big mouth!  It is very well detailed with scales and fins.

Size: 1.25" H x 1.5" L x .5" W

Sunny Badger was made by Danette Laate from shimmering gold lip mother of pearl.  It has bright blue turquoise eyes and four turquoise dots on its back. In the center is a Sunface made of inlaid red coral, turquoise, and jet.  The stripe on the back is detailed as well as the face, claws, and tail.  We love how its head is tilted as if listening for where its next meal is coming from. "DL" is engraved on the bottom.

Size: .5" H x 1.75" L x .75" W

In the Zuni tradition badgers are the guardians of the south which is associated with new beginnings.  Badgers are diligent and fierce; you would not want to mess with one!  They are creatures of both the world underground where their dens are, and the world on Mother Earth’s belly where they live to hunt.  

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.

It is easy to imagine this joyful Tangerine Dolphin leaping into the air!  Danette Laate carved it from alabaster and it has bright turquoise eyes and ten inlaid turquoise dots.   A Sunface made from turquoise, jet, and red coral behind its dorsal fin.  DL is engraved on the bottom. DL is engraved on the bottom.

Size: 1.5" H x 2.25" L x .5" W

Dolphins are some of our most joyous non-human relatives.  They are communal beings that communicate with one another and seem to do their best to communicate with humans too.  They sometimes work together to hunt and are very cooperative.  If you ever need a bit of joy, just watch a video of dolphins in the wild!

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.