Zuni corn maiden fetish

Description:Courtesy photo This cluster of Zuni fetish carvings of the six directional animals were created by artist Jayne Quam. The yellow mountain lion represents north, the blue bear west, the multi-colored eagle represents the above, the red badger south, white wolf east, and black mole is of the underworld. Courtesy photo Small, intricately carved fetishes of ceremonial animals and figures are a popular form of contemporary art created by the Zuni Tribe of eastern New Mexico. The Earthly directions are symbolized by beast Gods in Zuni culture, and are often depicted in fetishes hand-carved from bone, jasper, turquoise, marble, coral, amber, abalone, conk shells, mother of pearl, fossilized mammoth tusks, antler and other materials. The mountain lion represents the north, the badger the south, the shambling bear the west, and fox, or wolf the east. The eagle is the intermediary between humans and sky powers, and the mole or shrew signifies the nadir below.

Views: 8316 Date: 2018-11-16 Favorited: 20