Zuni Pueblo Three Strand Fetish Necklace

Journey of a Fetish Necklace: A Tale of Zuni Pueblo Artistry

The owner of this fetish necklace patiently collected individual fetishes for many years until she had enough of the specific ones she desired. She just recently had the fetishes strung as a three-strand necklace. This was a labor of love for her.

Most of the fetishes are birds with an occasional animal selected. There is a large variety of materials—coral, turquoise, jet, mother of pearl, spondylus shell, serpentine, and pipestone.

Zuni Pueblo fetishes are small carvings of animals made by very skilled lapidary artists. These carvings traditionally served a ceremonial purpose, with individual animals being associated with specific powers to assist the owner in hunting, healing, prosperity, or other important matters. Recognized and studied by Frank H. Cushing in the late 19th Century, fetishes have held a fascination for non-natives for over 100 years. Early on, traders realized the value of the carvings as an item to market to visitors to the Southwest. As an artform, they were made and sold with secular intentions, not ceremonial. Today the carving of fetishes has become a primary economic activity at Zuni Pueblo.

Zuni Pueblo artists began creating necklaces with multiple fetish carvings in the mid-20th Century. The fetishes of this three-strand necklace are from that time. Each of the various colored fetishes has delicately placed eyes. Each fetish was beautifully carved and was selected by the owner for its perfection. They are set between finely made Santo Domingo heishe with silver hooks on the ends.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Zuni Pueblo Three Strand Fetish Necklace is from the collection of a client from Washington.

Recommended Reading: Zuni Fetishes by Frank Hamilton Cushing

TAGS: Zuni Pueblo, Southwest Indian Jewelry