Vintage Fitz Kiyite Fetish Set of Turquoise Bear and Six Direction Animals

This is a special Zuni vintage fetish carving for several reasons:

1. The central fetish is hand-carved of turquoise, the most sacred stone
2. It's a rarer and powerful six directional set - the bear carving is wrapped with five other carvings from the six Zuni directions
3. It is a vintage piece with neat provenance

This charming turquoise bear (look at it's darling face) and friends is by Zuni carver Fitz Kiyite, and this is his tribute to the six directions.

Zuni People recognize six rather than four directions. The directions are North, South, East, West, the Zenith (the sky or the heavens), and the Nadir (the ground or the underground). Each direction has a corresponding color and animal. These directional animals provide protection and healing. They are as follows:

• Yellow Mountain Lion representing the North
• Red Badger representing the South
• White Wolf representing the East
• Blue Bear representing the West
• Multi-colored Eagle of the Zenith
• Black mole of the Nadir

With this single beautiful carving, Fitz Kiyite has incorporated all directions, animals and colors. Each of the six animals is carved of a different natural stone that is uniquely its color. How wonderful!

Each animal in this set is prized for its different attributes. There are many, but here are a few:

• Mountain Lion stands for independence, strength and agility
• Badger knows about plant medicine, so she assists with healing illness
• Wolf represents loyalty to the pack or family 
• Bear bestows power, courage and strength
• Eagle soars freely with grace and power
• Mole lives in the underworld and protects crops

As you may now understand, this six directional animal fetish set is imbued with strong power. Unlike Zuni ceremonial fetishes, this one was created for you to admire and enjoy.

Provenance: It comes from the 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. He 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.

Dimensions: 2" tall x 2" long x 1 1/4" wide. Signed on the bottom.