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Carving, turtle

Proper right side. Photograph by Theresa Montoya. Copyright 2011 School for Advanced Research.

Carving, turtle

Date: before 2006
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
5.9 × 4.5 × 2.8 cm (2 5/16 × 1 3/4 × 1 1/8 in.)
Medium: stone | turquoise
Credit Line: Bequest of Estelle Rebec; received at the Indian Arts Research Center in 2006.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: SAR.2007-1-171
Not on view
DescriptionTwo turtles carved out of one piece of beige stone (a larger turtle with the smaller turtle on its back). The turtles are factory or machine made, not hand made.There appears to be some brownish pigment on the beige stone of the turtles' bodies and they may have been varnished. The backs of both turtles are covered with small, rounded turquoise cabochons (the smaller turtle also has one piece of square-shaped turquoise on it). The varieties of turquoise include Kingman, Sleeping Beauty, Castle Dome and others.
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2011 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 7”): The materials used are an uknown tan stone (turtles) and a variety of turquoise (the small cabochons glued to the turtles’ backs). The types of turquoise include Kingman, Sleeping Beauty, Castle Dome, and others. The turtles appear to be factory- or machine-made ones that the artist bought and then glued the turquoise to. The Zuni word for turtle is edo:wa.

Though small carvings such as this, usually depicting an animal, are frequently referred to as “fetishes,” it is important to note that they are not true fetishes. True fetishes are made and used specifically for spiritual or ceremonial purposes and uses. This type of item, however, is made specifically for sale. It is more appropriate to refer to commercially-made figures of this type as “carvings.”

Carvings produced for commercial purposes depict a wide variety of animals, but there are only six animal depictions that can become true fetishes. They are animals that are associated with the six directions, which are each associated with a particular color. The six animals should be carved from a stone that is the color of the associated direction. The six animals and their corresponding directions/colors are: Mountain Lion-North-Yellow; Bear-West-Blue; Badger-South-Red; Wolf-East-White; Eagle-Sky (Up)-Multi-color; Mole or Shrew-Underworld (Below)-Black. Any of these six animal carvings can become a true fetish, IF it is given a spiritual life by certain Zuni religious leaders. These fetishes would be used by Zuni people for protection, and by Zuni hunters, depending on which animal is chosen for the fetish, for assistance in the hunt.
In Collection(s)
The Indian Arts Research Center, in collaboration with Native American community scholars, strives to present accurate collections records. Records may be updated as new information becomes available and is reviewed with the Native American community having cultural affinity to particular items. Please write to iarc@sarsf.org if you have questions or concerns related to the documentation.