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The Americas · c. 1500 BCE – today

Zuni & Pueblo fetishes

Meaning

Zuni fetishes (wemawe) are small stone and antler carvings of animals that hold spiritual power. There is a guardian for each direction: mountain lion (north), bear (west, healing), badger (south), wolf (east), eagle (above) and mole (below). Some carry arrowheads, a heartline and a medicine bundle.

Intent

Sacred fetishes are kept in a pot, fed cornmeal and used for hunting, healing, protection and prayer. Carvings made for sale are a separate, secular art that the Zuni distinguish from sacred ones.

Significance

Zuni carving is one of the great living Native American arts, supporting many carvers, and a lesson in respecting the line between sacred objects and commercial art. Famous carving families include Quam, Cheama and Leekya.

History

Fetish use is ancient at Zuni Pueblo (New Mexico). Commercial carving began in the late 19th century and boomed from the 1970s. Frank Hamilton Cushing described sacred fetishes in 1883.

Making yours
2–7 cm stone (turquoise, serpentine, jet, alabaster) or antler, with shell and turquoise inlays and a bundle tied on with sinew.
The Americas: the tradition

In the Americas, protective and power objects belonged to the relationship between people, ancestors, animals and the land. Andean herders kept stone illas for the fertility of their flocks, Mesoamerican rulers wore green jade as breath and maize, Isthmian goldsmiths cast animal spirit-helpers, and Arctic and Northwest Coast shamans carried carved spirit charms. Catholicism, arriving from 1492, brought saints, milagros and the Iberian evil-eye tradition, which fused with Indigenous and African belief into new forms such as Ekeko, the Afro-Brazilian balangandã and Santería. Many Indigenous objects are sacred and some communities ask that they not be displayed or copied; the Zuni, for example, distinguish sacred fetishes from carvings made for sale.

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FetishFetishNew York · 1980Zuni Indian Girl, with water olla, No. 17 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"Zuni Indian Girl, with water olla, No. 17 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"United States · 1873sm/fetisj-sex [s[ado] m[asochism] fetish-sex]sm/fetisj-sex [s[ado] m[asochism] fetish-sex]Norway · ca. 1995gri-gri, fetisch, triangelgri-gri, fetisch, triangelMali · 1972Anubis Fetish (Imiut)Anubis Fetish (Imiut)Egyptian 12th dynasty · circa 1919 date QS:P571,+1919-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1885 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasty: Dynasty 12 ReiFetish ModernityFetish ModernityIndonesiafetisch, fetishfetisch, fetishDemocratic Republic of the CongoSculpture, carving amulet from RussiaSculpture, carving amulet from RussiaRussiaamulet bagamulet bagJapanamulet, tortoise shell, amuletamulet, tortoise shell, amuletAngolaFetisch, fetish amulet from SwedenFetisch, fetish amulet from SwedenSwedenFetisch, fetish amulet from GabonFetisch, fetish amulet from GabonGabonfetisch, Fetiscch, fetishfetisch, Fetiscch, fetishSwedenIl feticismo primitivo in Italia, e le sue forme di adattamento (1907) (14577591549)Il feticismo primitivo in Italia, e le sue forme di adattamento (1907) (14577591549)ItalyWellcome Historical Medical Museum, Wigmore Street, London: a display of figurines and fetishes. Photograph from a negative of 1913.Wellcome Historical Medical Museum, Wigmore Street, London: a display of figurines and fetishes. Photograph from a negative of 1913.Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (18738636844)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (18738636844)Gardens surrounding the Indian Pueblo of Zuni, in which are raised a variety of vegetables, such as peppers, onions, garlic &c, No. 18 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"Gardens surrounding the Indian Pueblo of Zuni, in which are raised a variety of vegetables, such as peppers, onions, garlic &c, No. 18 from the series "Geographical Explorations and Surveys West of the 100th Meridian"United States · 1873Anubis or Imiut fetish (see 14.3.19–.20)Anubis or Imiut fetish (see 14.3.19–.20)Egyptian 12th dynasty · circa 1919 date QS:P571,+1919-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902 –1885 B.C. or 1887–1878 B.C. Period: Middle Kingdom Dynasfetish, amuletfetish, amuletDemocratic Republic of the CongoShore, Amulet, AmuletShore, Amulet, AmuletAngolafetisch, fetish, amulet, tekifetisch, fetish, amulet, tekiSwedenFetisch, fetish amulet from GabonFetisch, fetish amulet from GabonGabonIl feticismo primitivo in Italia, e le sue forme di adattamento (1907) (14741245376)Il feticismo primitivo in Italia, e le sue forme di adattamento (1907) (14741245376)ItalyWhile dining with two women, a man pleasures one of them with his foot. Coloured lithograph, ca. 1830.While dining with two women, a man pleasures one of them with his foot. Coloured lithograph, ca. 1830.Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19365195091)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19365195091)Indian Pueblo of Zuni, New Mexico; view from the interior. The "Pueblo" or town, encloses a quadrangular area within which are the ruins of a church built under the direction of the Jesuit missionaries. The houses are built one above the other to the height of five or six stories. The entrances are mostly from the top, the ascent and descent being made by ladders, No. 16 from the series "GeographiIndian Pueblo of Zuni, New Mexico; view from the interior. The "Pueblo" or town, encloses a quadrangular area within which are the ruins of a church built under the direction of the Jesuit missionaries. The houses are built one above the other to the height of five or six stories. The entrances are mostly from the top, the ascent and descent being made by ladders, No. 16 from the series "GeographiUnited States · 1873Förberedelser, fetish modernity, photograph from SwedenFörberedelser, fetish modernity, photograph from SwedenSwedenfetisch, fetishfetisch, fetishGabonPsychopathia sexualis : with especial reference to antipathic sexual instinct a medico-forensic study / by R. v. Krafft-Ebing ... The only authorised English translation of the tenth German edition.Psychopathia sexualis : with especial reference to antipathic sexual instinct a medico-forensic study / by R. v. Krafft-Ebing ... The only authorised English translation of the tenth German edition.Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14779823191)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14779823191)Fetisch, fetish amulet from SwedenFetisch, fetish amulet from SwedenSwedenAnnual report of the Bureau of ethnology to the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1904) (14800992713)Annual report of the Bureau of ethnology to the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1904) (14800992713)DVRededicationMay222016 0385 (29319978385)DVRededicationMay222016 0385 (29319978385)Animal effigies of the ZuniAnimal effigies of the ZuniAnnual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19173889658)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19173889658)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14596295689)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14596295689)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14780705794)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14780705794)Côte d'Ivoire. 31, Fétiches / [mission] Binger ; [photogr.] Monnier ; [photogr. reprod. par] Molteni [pour la conférence donnée par] MonnierCôte d'Ivoire. 31, Fétiches / [mission] Binger ; [photogr.] Monnier ; [photogr. reprod. par] Molteni [pour la conférence donnée par] MonnierAnnual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19361171145)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19361171145)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14596461497)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14596461497)Annual report of the Bureau of ethnology to the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1904) (14594368860)Annual report of the Bureau of ethnology to the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1904) (14594368860)DVRededicationMay222016 0355 (29286303406)DVRededicationMay222016 0355 (29286303406)Zemi figure 1Zemi figure 1Zuñi fetiches; (1883) (14779525774)Zuñi fetiches; (1883) (14779525774)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19173538290)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19173538290)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14596289859)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14596289859)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14780594424)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14780594424)Clover (40670426730)Clover (40670426730)DVRededicationMay222016 0417DVRededicationMay222016 0417Il feticismo primitivo in Italia, e le sue forme di adattamento (1907) (14577786947)Il feticismo primitivo in Italia, e le sue forme di adattamento (1907) (14577786947)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19365172461)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19365172461)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14596574687)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14596574687)Annual report of the Bureau of ethnology to the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1904) (14778755614)Annual report of the Bureau of ethnology to the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1904) (14778755614)DVRededicationMay222016 0357 (28697207534)DVRededicationMay222016 0357 (28697207534)New Mexico, the land of the delight makers - the history of its ancient cliff dwellings and pueblos, conquest by the Spaniards, Franciscan missions; personal accounts of the ceremonies, games, social New Mexico, the land of the delight makers - the history of its ancient cliff dwellings and pueblos, conquest by the Spaniards, Franciscan missions; personal accounts of the ceremonies, games, social Zemi figure 2Zemi figure 2Côte d'Ivoire. 30, Intérieur de la case des fétiches dans un village de l'Indénié / [mission] Binger ; [photogr.] Monnier ; [photogr. reprod. par] Molteni [pour la conférence donnée par] MonnierCôte d'Ivoire. 30, Intérieur de la case des fétiches dans un village de l'Indénié / [mission] Binger ; [photogr.] Monnier ; [photogr. reprod. par] Molteni [pour la conférence donnée par] MonnierAnnual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19175015709)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1895) (19175015709)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14596324228)Annual report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1901) (14596324228)Annual report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1880) (18742032573)Annual report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (1880) (18742032573)

More from The Americas: Andean illas & conopas · Isthmian & Colombian gold pendants · Mesoamerican jade & stone pendants · Taíno zemís & Caribbean amulets · Umbilical amulets & medicine bundles · Northwest Coast & Arctic shaman charms · Milagros & ex-votos · Balangandãs, figas & Afro-Atlantic charms · Dreamcatchers · Other & unsorted The Americas
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