Navajo Multi-stone Fetish Two-strand Necklace [SOLD]

C4612F-necklace.jpg

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Jeweler Once Known
  • Category: Necklaces
  • Origin: Diné of the Navajo Nation
  • Medium: multi-stones, shell, silver cones
  • Size: 27” end-to-end
  • Item # C4612F
  • SOLD

This exceptional fetish necklace consists of two strands, each of a slightly different length arranged in such a manner that each strand can be viewed without overlapping another. The longest strand contains 17 fetishes carved from jet, mother-of-pearl, turquoise, abalone shell and others. The shorter strand contains 15 fetishes carved from the same stones and maybe others. The two strands are anchored by two turquoise animals. The fetishes are strung about an inch apart on finely made brown heishe. The strands are held together at their ends with silver cones and a silver clasp.

The fetishes were very well carved and are dainty. There are birds and animals mixed throughout the three strands.  The arrangement of color is very pleasing.

We were previously informed by author Mark Bahti, who wrote a book on Zuni fetishes called Spirit in the Stone: A Handbook of Southwest Indian Animal Carvings and Beliefs, that the origin of this style of fetish necklace was not Zuni but was Navajo.  He identified the probable carver as someone from the Navajo carving family, Livingston-Yazzie, who worked for Frank Turpen and Stan Bartos in Gallup, New Mexico.  After more research, we found the following information in John Kennedy’s book, A Good Trade: Three Generations of Life and Trading Around the Indian Capital Gallup, New Mexico:

“In the early 70s fetish necklaces were a rage. We could not get enough of them. The principal supplier was Frank Turpen in Gallup. He and his partner, Stan Bartos, had a business called Bear Toes. Their only products were fetishes and fetish necklaces. In a trailer at Gallup’s west end, they employed twenty carvers. Among them were Frank’s sons, Dewayne, Anthony, Ronnie, and Stacey. The boys also went by the name of Upshaw and are among the best carvers ever in the business…..

In addition, Frank had a surrogate son named Johnny Sheyka, who was Zuni and Navajo, who was instrumental in teaching Frank’s sons fetish carving. Fetishes became Frank’s hallmark in the business. When the jewelry boom was in full swing, Frank and Stan were supplying most of the fetish necklaces. They accounted for nearly 90% of the fetish necklace supply. They had a system. Each carver was good at carving a particular fetish like a bird, fox, or bear. Turpen’s sons carved everything well. As fetishes accumulated, Frank’s wife Eva and daughter Tanya strung necklaces with pleasing combinations of color and character, often with graduated strands. Their “signature” was a turquoise open-wing bird at the bottom of the necklace…..The best thing about their fetish necklaces, besides their quality and color, was that they were ready for sale. Zuni carvers sold the fetish individually. I then had to purchase heshi beads and have the necklaces strung.”

The fetishes on this necklace were very well carved, but the key identifier as one of Turpen’s carver’s work is the turquoise open-wing bird at the bottom of the necklace.

Our thanks to Mark Bahti and John Kennedy for documenting necklaces of this style!


Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Navajo Multi-stone Fetish Two-strand Necklace is from the collection of a family from Colorado

Recommended Reading:

 -Bahti, Mark. Spirit in the Stone: A Handbook of Southwest Indian Animal Carvings and Beliefs

- Kennedy, John. A Good Trade: Three Generations of Life and Trading Around the Indian Capital Gallup, New Mexico

TAGS: Southwest Indian JewelryNavajonecklace

A simple hook and loop system secures this necklace.


Jeweler Once Known
  • Category: Necklaces
  • Origin: Diné of the Navajo Nation
  • Medium: multi-stones, shell, silver cones
  • Size: 27” end-to-end
  • Item # C4612F
  • SOLD

C4612F-necklace.jpgC4612F-large.jpg Click on image to view larger.