White Marble Bear with Heartline

Donovan Laiwakete carved this beautiful bear from white marble.  It has inlaid turquoise eyes and a beautiful heartline of inlaid coral, jet and turquoise.  The bundle has an arrowhead carved from black lip mother of pearl, with heishi, clam shell, and turquoise.

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

Bears are the guardians of the western gate in Zuni Pueblo.  They are associated with healing at all levels, protection, and a reminder to restore oneself during the winter months.  In some traditions a part of the bear is rubbed all over infants to imbue them with power, strength, and good health.

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.