Fetish Necklace

A fetish necklace is commonly made of very small shell beads called heishi and numerous hand carved animals made of various semi-precious gemstones. Generally fetish necklaces are long, made of one to three stands, and very colorful. The most popular animals used are birds, but you will also find wolves, foxes, badgers, bears, armadillos, rabbits and more!

A fetish is any animal form that is carved out of stone or formed in clay.  The Zuni are world famous for their carvings of animals. Zuni Indians regard animals and plants as their sisters and brothers, all formed from the same creator.  These sculpted objects are regarded by the Zunis, and other southwestern tribes, as to having the embodiment, or habitation, of a potent spirit.  Navajos will use Zuni fetish carvings to help protect their horses.

The Santo Domingo Pueblo is the leading producer of shell heishi beads used in fetish necklaces.  Heishi, from the Santo Domingo word meaning "shell," traditionally referred to shell beads. Today, however, it describes tiny, handmade beads of any material. In the ancient necklaces made by Ancestral Pueblo people, many containing thousands of beads and each hole was hand drilled with a cactus needle and sand.

While fetish carvings and fetish necklaces may serve a ceremonial purpose for their creators and depict animals and icons integral to their culture, as a form of contemporary Native American art, they are sold with non-religious intentions to collectors worldwide.

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Fetish Necklaces