Miscellaneous Fetish Carving

Is this Happy Racoon looking intently ahead to share its snack or is it ready to run away with it?  Enrike Leekya carved it from Zuni fish rock (serpentine) with jet around the eyes and tail.  It has turquoise eyes and a mother of pearl snout that is detailed.  It holds a turquoise snack, yum!  The paws are also detailed.

Size: 2.25" H x 3" L x 1" W

Racoons are successful in areas with or without humans.  They are very resourceful and have hands similar to humans.  They wash their food before eating and are fastidious.  They are intelligent, resourceful, and easily provide us with humor.

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 Snacking Racoon by Enrike Leekya is holding a half eaten snack made from green turquoise. It was made from travertine and has mother of pearl eyes, nose and mouth.  The turquoise eyes are inlaid into jet and the rings around the tail are also jet.  Its nose, mouth, hands, and feet are detailed. "EL" is engraved on a bottom foot.  This racoon has so much personality!  More about racoons below.

Size: 2.5" H x 3" L x 1.125" W

Racoons are successful in areas with or without humans.  They are very resourceful and have hands similar to humans.  They wash their food before eating and are fastidious.  They are intelligent, resourceful, and easily provide us with humor.

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.

Zuni carver Herbert Halate carved this Big Black Trout from smooth jet.  It has inlaid turquoise eyes and detailed face, gills, and fins.  It feels very good in the hand.  Maybe it would be a lucky fishing fetish?  "HALATE" and "ZUNI" engraving on the bottom. 

Size: 2.25" H x 5.75" L x 1.125" W

The Majestic Moose Zuni carving has intricate details which include the fur around the shoulders, beard, face, hooves, and stunning pink mussel shell antlers. Carved from dark and light gray marble, it has inlayed turquoise eyes. 

Size: 1.5" H x 2.25" L x .675" W

Moose are the tallest mammal in North American, and second-largest with the buffalo being largest.  People who live where moose are know to give them a large berth.  They are fast and extremely territorial, especially mothers with their young. They are solitary beings, with the exception of mothers who remain with their young for about 18 months.

This stately stagg was carved by Todd Etsate from jasper.  It has Mother of Pearl antlers and turquoise eyes.  More about deer below.

Size: 1.5" H x 1.675" L x .75" W 

Deer are sacred to some Native Americans.  Like the buffalo, they provide food, skins for clothing and pouches, hooves for rattles, antlers for weapons and art.  There are deer dances in Northern Mexico and the Southwest where the spirit of the deer enters into the bodies of the men who have been prepared to accept the deer.  When the men dance, they are no longer men.  They are deer.

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.

Four joyous meerkats are holding what may be little birds in each hand.  Chris Peina carved them from antler and inlaid jet eyes.  Their faces, hands, and legs are detailed.  

Size: 1.25" H x 1.1.75" L x 1.5" W

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.

Mr. Prairie Dog was carved from Mexican onyx by Alex Tsethlikai.  It has a sweetly carved face, tiny ears, detailed paws and tail, and inlaid turquoise eyes.  The offering bundle is a teal arrowhead with turquoise and red beads.  We love that prairie dogs "kiss" their closest friends and family by touching their front teeth together!

Size: 2.375" H x 1" L x .5" W

"Prairie dogs tend to be celebrated for their larger ecological virtues. In the grasslands across the central and western United States, their intricate underground colonies—called prairie dog towns—create shelter for jackrabbits, toads, and rattlesnakes. The bare patches of ground created by their grazing and burrowing attract certain insects that feed a variety of birds. And prairie dogs themselves are a key food source for everything from coyotes to hawks to endangered black-footed ferrets.

“These animals support at least 136 other species through their various activities,” said Kristy Bly, a WWF senior wildlife conservation biologist. “They’re basically the Chicken McNuggets of the grasslands.” More HERE

This Pretty Prairie dog was carved from Picasso marble by Alex Tsethlikai.  It has a sweetly carved face, tiny ears, detailed paws and tail, and inlaid turquoise eyes.  The offering bundle is a blue and green arrowhead with turquoise and red beads.  We love that prairie dogs "kiss" their closest friends and family by touching their front teeth together!

Size: 2.25" H x 1" L x .5" W

"Prairie dogs tend to be celebrated for their larger ecological virtues. In the grasslands across the central and western United States, their intricate underground colonies—called prairie dog towns—create shelter for jackrabbits, toads, and rattlesnakes. The bare patches of ground created by their grazing and burrowing attract certain insects that feed a variety of birds. And prairie dogs themselves are a key food source for everything from coyotes to hawks to endangered black-footed ferrets.

“These animals support at least 136 other species through their various activities,” said Kristy Bly, a WWF senior wildlife conservation biologist. “They’re basically the Chicken McNuggets of the grasslands.” More HERE

Louise Ponchuella carved this big boar from marble and inlaid red eyes.  The face, feet, ears, ridge of hair, and tail are all detailed.  Very cool!

Size: 1.25" H x 4.25" L x .75" W

Marvelita Phillips carved these dinosaurs and gave them bright blue turquoise eyes.  They were all carved from different shades of serpentine.  So sweet we want to pet them! 

Eggshell White: 1" H x 2.375" L x .5" W

Brown: 1" H x 2.25" L x .5" W

Tan: .875" H x 2" L x .375" W