Zuni Fetishes for Sale

We have added a new section to our website: Zuni Fetishes!

The Zuni Indians of New Mexico are known the world over for their hand carved fetishes. A fetish is an object, natural or man-made, in which a spirit is thought to reside. Most Zuni fetishes depict animals such as bears, mountain lions, wolves, badgers, frogs, turtles, eagles, snakes, buffalo and others. But the Zuni also carve human, ceremonial and spirit figures, such as the corn maiden. The materials used to carve Zuni fetishes include common stones & gems, such as serpentine, alabaster, marble, turquoise, malachite and pipestone. Also used are organic materials such as wood, bone, horn, antler, shells, amber & jet.

The six principle traditional fetishes are the Mountain Lion (Guardian of the North), the Black Bear (Guardian of the West), the Badger (Guardian of the South), the White Wolf (Guardian of the East), the Eagle (Guardian of the Upper Regions) and the Mole (Guardian of the Lower Regions). The traditional bundles tied to fetishes, typically small turquoise & coral beads and arrowheads, can be seen as offerings to the animal spirit that resides within the fetish.

Zuni Fetish carvings have been used for many ceremonial purposes throughout history. Each animal or character has a specific meaning and use. Some are used to enable hunters to catch game by making the particular animal more plentiful while others are used for healing or to protect an individual or community.

A fetish may be signed by the carver, or not. Personalization by signing a piece of art traditionally violates the Zuni notion of community purpose, and the signing of artwork is a concept introduced to the Zuni by Anglo collectors and traders.