LINKYour Link to Fine Zuni Fetish Carvings
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Imagine a universe where all things interconnect, sharing a common spirit. From the center of the earth to the outer reaches of the cosmos, every-thing human and animal connects.
For the Zuni (A:shiwi), this inter-relationship created a hierarchy of being. Humans are both the smartest and the most distant from the Creator and, therefore, the most vulnerable to danger. Animals, are the most natural and, therefore, closest to the Creator, with immediate access to the power of the Creator.
As might be expected in a culture with a history that is primarily oral, there are variations on the Zuni creation story. Common to most appears to be the belief that the Creator placed the Zuni on a land that was swampy and dangerous, filled with animals that were more adept at survival than humans and threatening to the Zuni. Zuni cosmology believes the two sons of the Creator made the land dry and habitable and, through the casting down of lightning bolts, turned many of the animals to stone.
The spirit of the animal remained in the stone, in the same way the life force remains in a seed. Stones that resembled animals, found on the ground, were believed to retain the power and character-istics of the animals they resembled. When a Zuni priest or medicine man consecrates these stones, they are believed to be formidable mediums for contacting the Spirit world and powerful allies for the hunter or individual or collective protection.In the sweep of time, Zuni carvers came first to modify the stones to better resemble the animal and then to carve distinguishable animal shapes in stones that were shapeless.
As carving was refined and the available materials expanded, the carving of "fetishes" grew into an art form. Such carvings still can become formal fetish objects if blessed by a sacred tribal leader or informal fetish objects if invested with power by the owner of the carving. The power and protection of the carving largely depends on the faith and belief of the person who owns it, and the respect with which it is treated.Traditional fetish carvings were kept in fetish bowls with a hole in the side so that they could be "fed." Ground corn or corn pollen and pulverized turquoise would be placed in front of the fetish. After a suitable interval, during which the fetish was able to absorb the spirit of the meal, the meal would be taken away and buried.
Today, owners of fetish carvings are expected to provide safe and comfortable care for them, including occasional feeding. It is said, "if you take care of the fetish, it will take care of you."
Click here for the continuation of this essay
and more about Zuni fetish carving traditions.
Call us now at
800-305-0185 with any questionsIf you are looking for a specific Zuni fetish animal or a Zuni fetish carver not listed below, you can search the entire site by using the Google search link. Simply type into the search window a word or phrase associated with your search. You will receive a list of links to the pages on which those items appear. Please be sure to keep the indicator on ZuniLink or you will transferred to the entire web.Happy hunting!
If you are interested in other Native American Indian art, such as pueblo pottery; silver, gold, turquoise and other hand-made jewelry; Navajo folk art, Inuit or Eskimo art, Australian Aboriginal art or African tribal art, click on any of these links:
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Zuni Link is operated by
Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, Fort Myers, Florida
For more information, or to contact
us by email,
send to sanibelart@comcast.net
or phone us at
239-482-7025 or 800-305-0185
from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM Eastern (US) time
What our customers say about us:
"She (the carving) is absolutely gorgeous and the immediate centerpiece of my maiden collection! Thank you" - M
"The bear has arrived after a long journey. I find it very beautifull! Thank you for the pleasant and good process." - AB, Netherlands
"Thank you Susanne and William. I don't know a lot about directional sets but believe I picked the one for good health I hope. My daughter lost everything and is on disability now and shes been so excited about my Zuni collection. Thank you so much for helping me with this. Its been a real blessing and please tell Lena Boone how much we appreciate and love the set... Thanks" - L
© 2002 - 2011 Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, a member of the
Indian Arts & Crafts Association, the Southwestern Association for Indian Art,
the Lee County Alliance for the Arts and the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce
Principal Office - 15194 Harbour Isle Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908
