Carving, shrew
Date: before 2006
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
2.2 × 6 × 2.2 cm (7/8 × 2 3/8 × 7/8 in.)
Medium: plastic | shell, spiny oyster | abalone | shell, clam | turquoise | sinew, artificial
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.2007-1-91
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksJim Enote and Octavius Seowtewa during collection review visit June 20 and 21, 2012 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 8”): The materials used are an unknown black stone, spiny oyster, abalone, white clam shell, turquoise, and artificial sinew. This is a shrew, which in Zuni tradition is associated with the direction below, which is associated with the color black. The Zuni word for shrew is maydubu.
This piece is part of a set of six directional animal carvings. (The other pieces of this set are SAR.2007-1-86, -87, -88, -89, and -90.) Each direction is associated with one of six colors, and therefore each of the animals in a directional carving set is associated with one of those six colors. The animals in the set, and the directions and colors to which they correlate 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.
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.” In the case of the carvings belonging to this directional set, they were made in a manner such that they could be given life by certain Zuni religious leaders. If this had occurred, they would be true fetishes. However, since this apparently did not take place, they are not consecrated should only be considered carvings, not true fetishes.
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.