Photograph by IARC staff. Copyright 1981 School for Advanced Research.
Carving or fetish, bear
Date: before 1981
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Carving: 1.5 × 1.5 × 2.5 cm (9/16 × 9/16 × 1 in.)
Medium: stone, turquoise | bone | sinew
Credit Line: Gift of Barbara Latham Cook, 1981.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: SAR.1981-22-1A
Not on view
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 a light green turquoise (bear), an unknown white shell (arrowhead), and real sinew (wrapped around bear), and leather (the accompanying pouch). The piece is made to like a hunting fetish—it is the right shape and is made of the right materials. It could be considered a fetish and not just a carving. A previous note in the database indicated that the piece might be of Diné manufacture. However, it is made appropriately to be a Zuni fetish; also, it is accompanied by a leather pouch, and Zuni people keep their fetishes in leather pouches. Though this piece appears to be a true fetish, it is alright for people to see it; it may remain on view. The fetish could be stored in the leather pouch, but it may also be stored outside the pouch as long as they are stored next to each other, for example, on a mount designed to keep the two together.
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.