Zuni Carved Stone Bear Fetish with Turquoise & Sinew-Bound Offering

A Zuni bear fetish carved from a mottled, banded stone with warm olive and brown speckling and natural inclusions across the surface. The animal is worked in profile with a forward-thrust muzzle, drilled and inset dark eyes, and simply defined legs and haunches. A rectangular turquoise offering bundle rides on the back, bound in place with a length of sinew wrapped around the body — a traditional element expressing gratitude and intent.

The bear is among the most enduring subjects in Zuni fetish carving, representing strength, healing, and the west among the six directional guardians. The natural pitting and banding of the stone are left visible rather than polished away, allowing the material's own character to read through the finished form. At 11.4 grams across a 2-inch form, the piece carries more weight than serpentine of comparable volume would typically yield, and the layered banding, olive-green base tone, and waxy surface luster are consistent with Picasso marble (also called Picasso stone) — a metamorphic limestone found in Utah and widely favored by Zuni carvers for its natural figuration. The raw, unpolished areas along the base and haunches show characteristic matrix patterning that supports this identification.

CONDITION

Good with no remarkable damage. The turquoise offering bundle and sinew wrap are intact and secure. Natural inclusions and surface pitting are inherent to the stone rather than condition issues.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Height: 7/8"
• Length: 2 1/16"
• Depth: 1/4"
• Weight: 11.4 grams
• Stone: Consistent with Picasso marble (metamorphic limestone); banded olive-green and brown with waxy matrix
• Offering bundle: Turquoise
• Binding: Sinew
• U.S. Quarter Shown for Scale — Not Included