Zuni Fetishes

Elton Kaamasee elk antler six-piece protective directional fetish set, each approximately 1-1/2” high by 2” long by 2” wide, SOLD. Ground animals are carved from the antler burr which forms their lair or burrow. Eagle is carved from a piece of antler beam and stands above the others watching. Eagle is 2-1/2” high by 1-1/8” long by 1-1/8” wide. A tour-de-force.

Sherdine Tsattie Mount Lemmon azurite old-style bear fetish, 1-1/2” high by 2-1/2” long by 5/8” wide, SOLD. The stone was gathered by Sherdine and her son Loren Tsalabutie during an excursion in the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. Arrowhead offering is carved of purchased azurite which is quite different in appearance. This one feels really soothing to hold.

Ricky Laahty colorful ocean jasper upright frog fetish, 1-3/8” high by 1-1/2” long by 3/4” wide, $250. A fearsome critter is carved underneath.  

Loren Tsalabutie blue angelite dancing bobcat fetish, 3” high by 2” long by 1-1/4” wide, SOLD. He’s just feelin’ groovy.

Patrick Homer (d) Pia Mesa travertine mountain lion fetish, 1-1/8” high by 2-1/2” long by 1/2” wide, SOLD. Rare. Very little of Patrick’s work is known; there isn’t even a photo of his work in the McManis books. The offering with long branch coral is tied on with sinew in the traditional manner rarely seen nowadays.

Michael Coble textured Picasso marble mouse fetish, 1-1/8” high by 2-1/2” long by 1” wide, $200. Michael’s work is beautifully finished with a wax polish which gives it a uniquely lifelike look.

Thelma Sheche (d) red marble eagle fetish, 7/8” high by 2-1/4” long by 1/2” wide, $300. This serene eagle has a natural turquoise offering, a piece of the sky carried on her back.

Sedrick Banteah (d) textured tan serpentine prairie dog fetish, 1-1/8” high by 1/2” long by 1/2” wide, SOLD. A prairie dog fetish is hard to find.

Ricky Laahty chrysocolla politician frog fetish, 1-1/8” high by 1-1/4” long by 7/8” wide, SOLD. The politician frog is Ricky’s invention: a single frog with two faces. Two cranes are carved underneath.

Leroy Chavez (d) textured Ojo rock beaver fetish, 7/8” high by 2-1/4” long by 5/8” wide, SOLD. Sweet beaver carved in Leroy’s favorite medium. Ojo rock is argillaceous limestone and is considered a local-to-Zuni stone.

Herbert Halate jet mountain lion fetish, 1” high by 3-3/8” long by 5/8” wide, SOLD. Sleek and sinuous!

Loren Tsalabutie variscite bunny fetish, 2” high by 1-3/4” long by 3/4” wide, SOLD. Spring green bunny rabbit wears a necklace of turquoise and coral to compliment his coral eyes.

​Prudencia Quam long dolomite mountain lion fetish, 1-1/2” high by 5” long by 3/4” wide, $250. Pru captured the intense look and twitching tail of a hunting mountain lion in her stylized carving.

Ricky Laahty spiderweb agate double frog fetish, 1-1/8” high by 1” long by 7/8” wide, SOLD. This is a new stone for Ricky. Because “agate” is in the name, I asked if it was hard to work. Ricky said, “Not as hard as ocean jasper.” As usual, Ricky’s use of the stone is unparalleled.

Gibbs Othole ivory stone calcite seated wolf fetish, 1-3/4” high by 1-1/2” long by 1” wide, SOLD. This carving and the next, the coyote, came in together. The faces show the difference between the wolf and coyote, the coyote having a relatively broader head. Gibbs is an astute animal observer who doesn’t rely on tropes for his identifiers.

Gibbs Othole ivory stone calcite coyote fetish, 1-1/8” high by 2-1/4” long by 7/8” wide, SOLD. A playful pose for the familiar trickster.

Erick Weeka textured Picasso marble eagle pair, 2” high by 2-1/8” long by 1-1/4” wide, SOLD. Strongly marked Picasso marble fetish from this rarely seen carver.

Vernon Lunasee Pakistani marble fox fetish, 7/8” high by 2-1/8” long by 1/2” wide, SOLD. Look at that alert foxy face!

Ricky Laahty small fluorite frog fetish, 3/8” high by 1” long by 3/4” wide, SOLD. Fluorite color varies from aqua to deep purple, almost black. There is an owl carved underneath.

Wilfred Cheama textured chocolate serpentine mountain lion fetish, 1” high by 1-7/8” long by 1-1/4” wide, SOLD. Wilfred was among the first to carve realistically detailed animals.

Aaron and Thelma Sheche (both d) golden alunite mountain lion fetish c. 1980s, 1” high by 2” long by 1/2” wide, SOLD. This sweet old-style mountain lion is perfect for an Aaron and Thelma directional set. Aaron’s distinctive pipestone arrowhead is tied on with natural sinew.

Elroy Pablito serpentine wolf fetish, 5/8” high by 3-1/4” long by 1/2” wide, $85. A long, lean wolf with a turquoise arrowhead offering.

Rickson Kallestewa pink alabaster mountain lion fetish, 1-1/2” high by 3-1/4” long by 1-1/8” wide, $120. Rickson is known for his exaggerated lion tails, and this tail wraps all the way around under the chin.

Ricky Laahty septarian nodule badger fetish with mother-of-pearl mounted bird guide, 1” high by 1-3/4” long by 3/4” wide, SOLD. There is another critter carved underneath, perhaps a bear.

Loren Tsalabutie large white marble bobcat fetish, 1-3/4” high by 3-1/4” long by 1-3/4” wide, $550. This blue-eyed bobcat has an azurite arrowhead offering tied on with lapis beads and coral. Impeccable, as Loren’s work always is.

Happy New Year, everyone!
Less than three weeks until the grand opening of the museum show The Art of Carving: Ricky Laahty!

Please call 505-243-0414 or email [email protected], 
or visit us in Old Town Albuquerque to place your order. 
A portion of all sales by Grey Dog Trading go directly to The Zuni Fetish Museum.