Big & Little Cats

This Pinto Mountain was carved by Ronnie Lunasee from tijilite and has turquoise eyes.  The stone has the colors of certain types of pinto horses.  The face and feet are detailed.  It feels very good in the hand.

Size: 1.125" H x 3.75" L x .675" 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.

The Hunter is in a slight crouch, perhaps it has narrowed in on its prey.  It was carved from tijilite by Ronnie Lunasee and has turquosie eyes.  The face and paws are well detailed, and it feels very good in the hand.

Size: .875" H x 3.235" L x .75" 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.

This Sweet Kitty was carved by Kenny Chavez from Mexican onyx.  One of the eyes is missing, making it a sweet and vulnerable kitty. It has a beautiful collar of inlaid silver, as well as an inlaid silver eye.  In the right light it glows!  The mouth, whiskers, front toes, and tail are well detailed.   

Size: 2.5" H x .675" L x .5" W

House cats decided to live with humans thousands of years ago.  They were highly revered in some ancient cultures, and we sometimes think they have an ancestral memory of that time.  Anyone who has known a cat well has seen it stare intently at something that we cannot see.  It can be a bit unnerving unless we consider that they see subtle energies beyond our capability.  At any rate, they are good companions.

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 regal kitty was carved by Kenny Chavez from agate.  It has a beautiful collar of inlaid silver, as well as inlaid silver eyes.  In the right light they glow!  The mouth, whiskers, front toes, and tail are well detailed.   

Size: 2.75" H x .5" L x .675" W

House cats decided to live with humans thousands of years ago.  They were highly revered in some ancient cultures, and we sometimes think they have an ancestral memory of that time.  Anyone who has known a cat well has seen it stare intently at something that we cannot see.  It can be a bit unnerving unless we consider that they see subtle energies beyond our capability.  At any rate, they are good companions.

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 Serene Mountain Lion was carved from Egyptian marble by Daphne Quam.  The stone is beautiful!  It has inlaid turquoise eyes and a lovely offering bundle that includes a spiny oyster arrowhead and turquoise.  

Size: 1.5" H x 2.675" L x 1" 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.

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.

This sleek mountain by Danette Laate has an inlaid Sunface of turquoise, red coral, and jet on its back.  The Sunface is surrounded by four tiny turquoise dots in the cardinal directions.  It is carved from serpentine the same color as some mountain lions.  The face and paws are beautifully detailed.  "DL" is engraved on the bottom.

Size: .675" H x 3.5" L x .375" 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.

This Crouching Cougar was carved from translucent pale lemon colored Mexican onyx with rust color patches on each side.  The offering bundle has a turquoise arrowhead and red coral.  The eyes are inlaid turquoise.  As in the older, traditional hunting cats, the tail up and over the back.  "NM" is engraved on the bottom front legs.

Size: .675" H x 2.675" L x .5" W

In Zuni Pueblo, mountain lions, or cougars, 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.

This ready to hunt mountain was carved by Leland Boone and Daphne Quam from laboradite which can be a translucent stone when held up to the light.  It has inlaid coral eyes and an offering bundle of a spiny oyster arrowhead with two turquoise beads.  It feels very good in the hand!  More about mountain lions below.

Size: 1.5" H x 3.125" L x .875" 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.

This bold mountain lion was carved from Picasso marble by Leland Boone and Daphne Quam.  It has inlaid turquoise eyes and an offering bundle with a spiny oyster shell arrowhead and two turquoise beads.  It feels very good in the hand!  More about mountain lions below.

Size: 1.375" H x 2.675" L x 1" 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.

This crouching mountain lion looks like it is ready for anything!  Alex Tsethlikai carved it from Mexican onyx and gave it a long, gracefully carved pink arrowhead bundle with a turquoise bead on top.  It has inlaid turquoise eyes, a graceful tail, and detailed face.

Size: 1.125" H x 2.75" L x .125 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.  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.

Reynold Lunasee carved this Courageous Cougar from jasper.  I has inlaid turquoise eyes and detailed face and paws.

Size: 1.25" H x 3.25" L x .675" W

In Zuni Pueblo, mountain lions, a.k.s. cougars, are the guardians of the north, which is where wisdom lives.  They are sleek hunters who are primarily solitary predators.  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.