Vintage Zuni Fetish Brown and Silver Nature-Inspired Necklace 16”

Vintage Zuni Fetish Brown and Silver Nature-Inspired Necklace 16” Brown and abalone and gold The art form of Native American stone carving has come to the attention of art collectors in recent years; however, it has survived pre-history. Carving fetishes has been a part of the Zuni culture for hundreds of years. The art of carving decorative “fetish necklacesâ€? was first practiced by Pueblo and Zuni carvers. These necklaces are either one strand or multi-strands of strung together with a variety of small carved animal figures that are drilled and strung with shell or turquoise "heishi" beads. These bird or animal carvings may be as small as a half an inch or less. The fetish necklaces may be created by a single artist, a family of artists, or assembled by a group of artists who work together in a shop. The Quandalacie family is one of the first Zuni families to work together. Each family member carved and contributed a fetish for a necklace given as a gift to their mother. In the 1960s, the Leekya family created fetish necklaces, and in the late 1950€™s, Santo Domingo Pueblo carvers began producing fetish bird necklaces. Floral box 2