Zuni Picasso Marble Bear Fetish with Medicine Bundle & Arrowhead Offering

A Zuni carved stone bear fetish from the late 20th century, worked from a single piece of polished picasso marble whose black dendritic inclusions branch across a cream-and-tan ground. The natural figuring does the heavy lifting here — collectors read the stone first, and this one carries dramatic tree-like veining that traces down the flank and pools into the shoulder, echoing the compact, forward-leaning bear silhouette. An arrowhead-form stone tablet rests on the dorsal surface, the traditional heartline offering mount, placed and intact.

The bear represents the Guardian of the West, associated in Zuni tradition with healing, and the attached medicine bundle follows the protocol for activating the fetish. Two parallel strands are strung with semi-precious beads and cabochons — turquoise, malachite, lapis lazuli, carnelian, garnet, rose quartz, tiger's eye, hematite, and Olivella/cone shell among mixed mineral elements — finished with natural feathers consistent with pheasant or hawk. Zuni Pueblo fetish carving is a living tradition rooted at Zuni, New Mexico; the completeness of the ritual elements here, from bundle to arrowhead, is what separates a decorative carving from a serious collector's piece..

CONDITION

Good with no remarkable damage. The stone body is fully polished and sound; the medicine bundle strands, beads, and feathers are secure and complete. Feathers show natural flex and minor separation of the barbs consistent with the material.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 4" W × 3" H × 1.5" D
• Weight: 285.5 grams
• Primary material: Picasso marble (single carved piece)
• Bundle: Turquoise, malachite, lapis lazuli, carnelian, garnet, rose quartz, tiger's eye, hematite, shell, mixed minerals
• Offering tablet: Arrowhead/blade-form polished stone
• Feathers: Natural, consistent with pheasant or hawk
• Unsigned
• Quarter (24.26mm) shown for scale — Not Included