Native American Zuni Todd Westika CornMaiden Fetish Selenite. Signed Early 2000s

  
NOTE: All prices are in USD. This listing was written from my heart and mind, with a detailed knowledge of and a love for our OOO products. AI is a wonderful development. I just prefer to do it my way. Did Christmas gift shopping sneak up on you last year? Don't let that happen again! Or even to celebrate Any Day with a very special and unusual gift. Signed Early 2000s Family Collection.

We offer here a non-ceremonial Zuni Corn Maiden fetish carving of Selenite (Satin Spar Gypsum). The satiny fibers of the selenite shimmer from within the depths of the fetish. The Corn Maiden's body is carved to resemble an ear of corn. Her eyes and nose are of inlaid sterling silver and she wears a necklace of five inlaid Turquoise beads.

The Corn Maiden's robe is adorned with dragonflies and traditional cornstalks. The Zuni believe the Corn Maiden saves them from starvation and assures them of a bountiful harvest. The midsection cornstalk etchings signify that she is a mother - a giver of life. A dated Todd Westika Zuni signature is on the bottom.

Zuni fetishes are animal carvings that have been integral to the Zuni culture for thousands of years. The animal a fetish depicts represents that animal's "special medicine". A fetish is believed to have a spirit as if it were alive. A person must mindful and respect the spirit of the animal that the fetish signifies. The Zuni feel that it is the spirit within the fetish that is of value, not the object itself. The Zunis regard ceremonial fetishes in carefully directed manners; the fetish must be nurtured in ways that include offerings of cornmeal. It is believed that the care a fetish receives is proportional to the protection it provides. None of the strict Zuni guidelines apply to non-ceremonial fetishes as we offer here. Fetishes widely available for sale to the public today are non-ceremonial, as they have not been blessed by a medicine man. Todd Westika lives and works in Zuni Pueblo New Mexico and is steeped in traditional Zuni culture. Todd is basically self-taught in fetish carving. In 1990 an aunt showed him basic carving techniques and gave him a small bear that he used as a model.

He has used his knowledge of minerals and rocks from geology classes as a part of his Geological Engineering degree from New Mexico Tech. He uses a wide variety of semiprecious and precious natural stones and gemstones sourced from around the Earth. Todd is a prodigious award-winner. His awards include many from the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, American Indian and Western Relic Show in Pasadena, California, and others. His work has been featured in a number of books about Zuni fetishes: One of his Bison fetishes adorns the cover of the prestigious "A Guide to Zuni Fetishes and Carvings", Volume 2.

He has demonstrated fetish carving at numerous locations: The Indian Craft Shop, U. Of the Interior, Washington D.

C; The Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona; Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado; and many art galleries in the U. Additionally, he was appointed to the Zuni Arts Certification Commission. This recognition has cemented his reputation as one of the most celebrated Zuni carvers of today and earned him a worldwide clientele.

Outback Oz Opal began as a two-Geologist family unit in the middle of a street in Coober Pedy, South Australia where we bought from a gem cutter some finished Opal stones and rough Opal to cut and sell in the US. We learned so much about grading and cutting from them. Ultimately one miner stored hundreds of pounds of his rough in a SeaLand container on our property to avoid the expense of returning with unsold goods to Australia. What a dream hobby for two Geologists! But, as is always the case, life happened - a great job opportunity for the Dad in another state and Military service for the Grandson, who had grown up in the business and cut his first Opal fetish when he was in Kindergarten.

In addition to opal and Native American trade goods, we are listing items of the accumulation of family treasures. Please check out our listings which we truly believe are good value, as this is primarily a downsizing effort rather than a business. We appreciate your business and thank you so much for trusting Outback Oz Opal.