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Fetish Necklaces
Fetish necklaces contain animal carvings strung together like a charm bracelet. A fetish is any animal form that is carved out of stone or formed in clay. Zuni Indians regard animals and plants as their sisters and brothers, all formed from the same creator. These inanimate objects are regarded as to having the embodiment, or habitation, of a potent spirit or of having a magical potency.
Similar to Navajo storytellers, fetish necklaces may serve as something intended to assist the memory, in the case of a verse or formula, for traditional stories. While all Southwestern tribes make and use fetishes, the Zuni people have developed a reputation for being the most skillful in carving elaborate fetishes, which are used in their religious rituals and are an integral part of their personal lives.
While these carvings 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, fetish necklaces are sold with non-religious intentions to collectors worldwide. Be aware that there are many fetish necklaces on the market that are not Native American made. Our fetish necklaces are the genuine article and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. FREE SHIPPING!
Navajo Brown Bear Fetish Necklace
Two strands made into one necklace 31" long with eight hand carved jasper bears, each inlaid with tiny turquoise eyes. Strung with brown shell heishe, turquoise, coral, mother of pearl and more with a sterling silver hook and eye clasp. $139.00
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Each of the nine turquoise bears are uniquely hand carved. The central bear stands 15/8" tall. The other bears are 1-1 1/4" long. As you can see from the photos, the artisan used two different kinds of turquoise bears. The length is 24". It is finished with sterling silver beads and clasp. The tiny turquoise heishe beads are simulated turquoise. $159
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Navajo Indian Pony Horse Fetish Necklace with Matching Earrings
The total length of this exquisite necklace is 27". It is strung with tiny shell beads called heishe that are only just over 1.5 mm wide, and nine hand carved stone horses. The necklace is finished with sterling silver cones and clasp. The center horse is turquoise and stands 1 1/4" tall from ears to feet and it is 1 5/8" wide. The other eight horses are slightly shorter and about 1 1/2" wide. They are made of different kinds of semi-precious gemstones including jet, pipestone, green serpentine, and jaspers. The perfectly matching horse earrings are about 3/4" tall by 1" wide. Each horse has a prayer bundle intended to protect the animal. These are made of an arrowhead carved out of bone with a tiny bead of red coral and turquoise. They are attached to the body with sinew. The arrow is for protection and the attached stones are offerings to feed its spirit. $375
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Zuni Animal Fetish Necklace
The total length of this necklace is 23". It is strung with
small shell and turquoise heishe beads and finished with
sterling silver cones and clasp. The animals include 2 mother of pearl turtles,
3 shell birds, 1 turquoise turtle, 1 black stone bear, 1 mother of pearl bear,
and a stone fox. There is a total of 9 delicately hand carved
animals on the necklace. $175.00
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Navajo Carved Animal Fetish Necklace Turquoise & More 3 Strand
The shortest length of the three strands is 27", the longest is 30". This fetish necklace is made of primarily of birds and squirrels with two foxes overlooking them all! They are made of stone and shell including turquoise, jasper, Zuni rock and fishrock, green adventurine, lapis, jet and mother of pearl. All fifty-nine fetishes are strung on tiny shell heishe beads and the necklace is finished with sterling silver cones and clasp. $175.00
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Yaqui Indian Mother of Pearl Eagle Fetish Necklace Vintage 1968
This is a Yaqui Indian
made fetish necklace, 26" long with a 4 1/2" eagle. It is all mother of
pearl shell with long oval sterling silver twist beads. Made on
the Xavier Indian Reservation in Arizona. The Mission San Xavier
is known as the "White Dove of the Desert" for its stark white building.
$195.00
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Finely Detailed 3 Strand Animal Fetish Necklace - Turquoise Bear, Armadillo, etc.
The total length of this wonderful one of a kind necklace is 28". It is strung with the tiniest of shell beads called heishi I have ever seen. The necklace is finished with sterling silver cones and clasp.
The bottom animal is a fabulous turquoise bear that stands 1/2" tall and
is 1 1/4" wide. The other animals are turquoise armadillos, black jet
frogs, oyster shell birds, pipe stone turtles, mother of pearl bears,
and a mother of pearl chipmunk and rabbit! There is a total of 13
delicately hand carved animals on the necklace.
$475.00
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Outstanding Highly Unique Beaded Indian Corn Fetish Necklace - One of a Kind!
The total length of this remarkable necklace is 23". It is strung with very small shell beads called heishi. There are ten turquoise nuggets in the shape of kernels of corn and the fabulous part is the ten beaded ears of Indian corn with white leather tassels. We have never seen anything like this before. The beadwork is outstanding, so detailed and so perfectly representative of actual miniature ears of corn. Corn, or maize, is symbolic of the staff of life in many native cultures. In the Southwestern desert, the Hopi, Zuni and Navajo looked to the Corn Maiden, the symbol of corn and life, to keep them from starvation. Many Native American Indian tribes use corn in one form or another in ceremonies. The Hopi say that corn is life. The four colors of maize – white, red, blue and yellow- were given to them by the Creator. Among the Hopi, corn is regarded as the mother of people. At birth, a child is presented with 2 perfect ears of white corn to act as its “mothers” . At death, ears of blue corn are buried as substance for the journey. Corn meal is an all-purpose sanctifying substance that is sprinkled on dancers and altars during ceremonies. For the Navajo, corn is one of their four sacred plants. So-called Indian corn, with its calico colored seeds, is a certain variety of corn called flint that has been dried. It is edible, but bland and not sweet. In addition to Indian corn, it comes in black, white, yellow, red and blue and is the most important crop in the southwest. It is interested to note that before Europeans came to America in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, they did not know about corn. Scientists believe people living in central Mexico developed corn at least 7000 years ago and then it spread north and south to all of the Americas. $195.00
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