South of Gallup, New Mexico, and west on NM53, almost to the Arizona state line, you’ll find the pueblo home of the Zuni people (A:shiwi). It is worth a visit if you are in the area.
Connecting with the soul of the Zuni people is a little more difficult, but not impossible. One way is by collecting Zuni fetish carvings. These miniature masterpieces of the carver’s art have a deep and important connection with Zuni life.
Traditional Zuni belief holds that humans, having superior intellect to animals are more distant from the Creator. On the other hand, animals, being closer to nature also are closer to the Creator.
Since accounts of Zuni history have been passed orally through generations, there are variations of the creation story. One telling says that the Creator placed the original Zunis on land that was primeval and populated by animals that could prey on the Zunis. The Creator’s two sons set out to make the land more hospitable by casting down lightning bolts that turned many animals to stone.
It was believed that the spirit of the animal remained in the stone. When, after rainstorms, Zuni people found stones on the ground that resembled the shape of an animal, they believed that the power and cunning of the animal could protect them and assist in their hunts. If blessed by a Zuni priest, the characteristics of the creature were locked in, giving the carving the quality of a “fetish”.
Eventually, carvers enhanced the stone to make in resemble the animal more closely. Over time, this tendency led to carving of other materials that did not necessarily start out resembling a specific species. In a manner similar to other sculptors, however, the artist could see some creature inside the stone. Brian Yatsattie, a contemporary Zuni carver, told me, I often start carving the material until the spirit of the animal reveals itself. At that point, I continue with more detailed carving, in keeping with my “style”.
As the interest in Zuni “fetishes” became more widespread, it extended to other Indian tribes. Navajos traded with Zunis for creatures to protect their herds and flocks. Cochiti carvers joined the movement, carving primarily as a an artistic expression, although the animal inherent in the stone continued to be a guiding force. Salvador Romero of Cochiti, a highly respected and popular carver, tells me he walks the Cochiti pueblo land looking for stones that speak to him of the animal inside them. “But, ”says Salvador, ”sometimes I get it wrong and the stone refuses to be carved, or speaks to me revealing a different being.”
Zuni carvers now tend to carve in turquoise, a sacred stone for Zuni, shell, jet, marble, pipestone and other exotic materials such as lapis, antler, fossil ivory and even wood. Most commonly used materials, however, are serpentine and Zuni Rock, which are readily available on the Zuni pueblo.
This is a natural extension of the carving tradition into an art trade. Very few contemporary carvings could be called “fetishes” in pure terms. As a result, the combined term, most collectors and dealers now refer to “fetish carvings”. In any case, they are executed with great skill in styles, usually exclusively identified with the carver in question. Some carvers sign their works. Others do not, relying on their distinctive style for identification. The only other way to be relatively sure who carved a creature is by dealing with a trader who knows the provenance of the piece and can attest to it.
Returning to the spiritual nature of fetish carvings, legend has it that the Zuni cosmos is divided into six directions. (some carvers even specialize in six directions carvings or sets). The North is protected by the mountain lion. The West is protected by the bear. The South is protected by the badger. The East, by the wolf. The upper region, by the eagle. The underworld, by the mole.
Add to this, two hunting animals, the coyote and the bobcat. These are the traditional animals found in Zuni fetish carvings. Of course, as the genre became more popular, other creatures have been added: birds, horses, reptiles, buffaloes, domestic animals, corn maidens and other figures.
If it can be carved, there appears to be a collecting audience and market for it. Some collectors specialize in capturing the spirit a certain class of creature. Others collect a certain artist’s works. And many just seek the spirit that speaks to them on a personal level.
~~~~~~~~~~~
The author, William Waites, is a free lance writer who has been collecting fetish carvings for 30 years and frequently visits the carvers in their homes and studios.
