Featured in this lot is a Zuni Triple Strand Bird Fetish Necklace with Shell Beads. Carving fetishes has been a part of the Zuni culture for hundreds of years. The art of carving decorative necklaces was first practiced by Pueblo and Zuni carvers. These necklaces are either one strand or multi-strands of strung together with a variety of small carved animal figures that are drilled and strung with shell or turquoise "heishi" beads. These bird or animal carvings may be as small as a half an inch or less. The fetish necklaces may be created by a single artist, a family of artists, or assembled by a group of artists who work together in a shop. Fetishes were originally carved by Native American tribes to ceremonially capture the spirit of the animal they represent. They were tied with offerings of shells, stones, or feathers, and were "fed" with corn pollen or other foods as an offering to the spirit of the fetish. The Zuni as well as other Pueblo tribes kept their fetishes in jars inside of their kivas, (a space used by Puebloans for rites and political meetings, many of them associated with the kachina belief system) and only brought them out only for specific ceremonies. Some fetishes are not carved for ceremonies, but for art; however, certain restrictions and taboos may be observed when created. hand-carved fetishes are made from a large assortment of natural stones including serpentine, jasper, obsidian, rhodonite & quartz, along with many others. This beautiful triple-strand fetish necklace measures 13.5"L.

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