157 Fetish
send this to a friendThe earliest Zuni fetish objects from the seventh century were natural occurrences of stone that resembled certain animals. Later fetishes were carved from stone and were understood to contain the spirit of the portrayed animal. The craft techniques currently in use are continuous with previous generations and the animal motifs the Zuni sculpt reflect the aspects of the world they hold sacred. For example, the bear fetish corresponds with potency, the lion with will, and the turtle with fertility. Creating and nurturing these animal fetishes renews respect and veneration toward life in the Southwest. The Zuni display these symbols of life as simple reminders of the beauty and intricacy of our immediate environment.



