Zuni Fetish Set Of Papa and Baby Bison Fetish Carvings

These two Zuni bison (or buffalo) fetishes are as cute as can be. Round, fat and shaggy brown with teeny feet and turquoise eyes, the two look like a papa buffalo and his baby buffalo. Baby even has little turquoise horns and an adorable little face. 

Bison, like this father and son pair, are one of the most iconic symbols of the American West because they were supremely important to Indigenous people. They're most associated with Native Americans from the Plains, but their range did once extend into New Mexico where Zuni Pueblo is located, before being decimated by the 1870's. According to Dave Arthun and Jerry Holechek authors of The North American Bison, "In 1880, New Mexico passed a protection law but by that time, the bison were already gone."

Fortunately, in New Mexico today, Taos Pueblo, Sandia Pueblo and Picuris Pueblo are involved in bison restoration efforts.

Zuni bison or buffalo fetishes represent strength, abundance, and even patience and endurance - all good things that we can use more of.

Let this father and son bison fetish set bring you goodness by sitting powerfully (and adorably) up on your shelf. 

Dimensions: Baby is 1 1/4" long x 3/4" wide and 1 1/8" tall. Dad is 1 1/2" long x 7/8" wide and 1 1/4" tall. 

Provenance: Neither bison appears to be signed, but they come from the beloved fetish collection of a beautiful woman who grew up in Germany during World War II. Post war, she moved to the United States and became a model in New York City. She eventually married, left her modeling career, and moved to El Paso with her husband. In El Paso, she first experienced the charm of Native American art and jewelry. 

Many years later, she attended her first of several celebrated Native American art field trips hosted by Martha Struever. During this time, she expanded her collection of Native American art and jewelry. Her collection wasn't vast, but it was extremely meaningful to her.

After a long and full life, this dear woman recently passed away. She knew that her collection which she lovingly called her "treasures" was to be handled by Turquoise & Tufa, and she expressed her wishes that these dear fetishes would bring as much joy to us as they did to her.