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20 Tales & Images from Gem Trader Jeff Lewis Stories from a Trader's Life - Get Stories and Chapters

Fetishes & Carvings

The word "fetish" can be broadly applied to a number of Native American ceremonial artifacts, including peace pipes, prayer sticks, medicine bags, and so on. But today the word is most often used to mean an animal carving, usually in stone, which houses the spirit or supernatural qualities of that animal. Native Americans have great reverence for the unseen world, believing everything contains spirit. Fetishes, amulets and talismans are related; all may be used to invoke protection, luck, fertility, abundance and healing. The use of fetishes by Native Americans dates to pre-Columbian times. Fetish use is as prevalent today as then.

Every fetish carving is unique and distinctive in color, markings and shape. The great variability in the matrix of the natural material combines with the artistry of the carver to create a special personality. Fetishes are sometimes embellished. Arrows, with beads of shell, turquoise and coral, or bundles of parrot feathers are often used. Certain animals may be carved with a heartline, a lightening bolt of inlaid stone or shell, which runs from the mouth of the fetish to the heart center, representing the spirit essence.

Native Americans consider those things that are the least understood and most mysterious as the most sacred and powerful. Because their ways can never truly be understood by humans, animals represent unknown powers. As man tries to grasp forces which are beyond his immediate control, he looks to animal spirits as a bridge to the greater powers.

We have an enormous Ramah Navajo and Zuni fetish collection, and are in the process of posting new items. If there is something you are looking for immediately, please contact us as we most likely have it in stock. In the mean time, come back soon to see our most recent additions!
Amos Pino Alabaster Buffalo

Amos Pino Alabaster Buffalo

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. This buffalo sculpture is carved from a piece of Colorado alabaster with turquoise horns and spirit line. The eyes are inlaid turquoise. Measurements are 4" x 2" x 1"
APALABbuffalo $395.00  per piece
Amos Pino Alabaster Horse

Amos Pino Alabaster Horse

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. This horse is carved from Colorado alabaster and has a distinct heartline using coral, lapis, spiny oyster and turquoise. The eyes are inlaid turquoise. This horse measures 5" x 4" x1.5"
APALAhorse $450.00  per piece
Amos Pino Amber Bear  SOLD

Amos Pino Amber Bear SOLD

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. Amos carved this very stylized bear from natural Baltic amber. He refers this design as his foot forward bear. Dimensions are 2.25“ x 1.25“ x .75“
APAMBbear $265.00  per piece
Amos Pino Amber Buffalo SOLD

Amos Pino Amber Buffalo SOLD

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. This buffalo sculpture is carved from authentic Baltic amber. The eyes are inlaid turquoise and the horns are natural turquoise. The spirit line is delicately inlaid with turquoise, lapis and coral. Dimensions are 2“ x 1“ x .75“ SOLD
APAMBbuffalo $395.00  per piece
Amos Pino Azurite Ram

Amos Pino Azurite Ram

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. This amazing ram is carved from azurite from the Blue Bird Mine in Globe, Arizona. This material is a copper oxide and contains azurite, malachite, crysacola and cuprite. These copper oxides are said to be energy conductors. Dimensions are 2.25“ x 1.75“ x .75“.
APAZram $395.00  per choose quantity:
Amos Pino Crysacola Frog

Amos Pino Crysacola Frog

Sarah Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. She is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. The frog is carved from crysacola containing some malachite staining and with inlaid coral eyes. The frog image represents fertility in the Native American belief system.It measures 2" x 2" x 1.25"
SPCRYSfrog $395.00  per piece
Amos Pino Labradorite Mountain Lion

Amos Pino Labradorite Mountain Lion

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. his mountain lion sculpture is made from labradorite and has plenty of iridescence. The eyes are inlaidwith turquoise. Dimensions are 3.25“ x 1“ x .75“.
APLABmtlion $300.00  per piece
Amos Pino Labradorite Ram

Amos Pino Labradorite Ram

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. Amos sculpted this ram from labradorite which is a feldspar and exhibits beautiful iridescence. The eyes are inlaid turquoise. Dimensions are 2.25“ x 1.75“ x .75“
APLABram $295.00  per choose quantity:
Amos Pino Lapis Buffalo

Amos Pino Lapis Buffalo

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. This lapis buffalo sculpture is well detailed with coral horns and inlaid eyes. Dimensions are 2“ x 1“ x .5“
APLAPbuffalo $300.00  per piece
Amos Pino Mother of Pearl Bear SOLD

Amos Pino Mother of Pearl Bear SOLD

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. This outstanding mother of pearl stylized bear has a power pack bundle consisting of a double arrow of pearl shell and lapis with turquoise, coral, amber and a lapis and melon shell bead. There is large Mediterranean coral branch inserted on one side and a Carico Lake turquoise nugget on the other. Dimensions are 3.25" x 2.25" x .6".
APPEARLbear $500.00  per choose quantity:
Amos Pino Mother of Pearl Spread Wing Eagle

Amos Pino Mother of Pearl Spread Wing Eagle

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. This striking eagle sculpture is carved from a very heavy piece of mother of pearl and measures 5" x 2.25" x .75".
APPEARLeagle $395.00  per piece
Amos Pino Sugilite Ram SOLD

Amos Pino Sugilite Ram SOLD

Amos Pino is from the Ramah Navajo Band, a landlocked group of Navajo living in a non-contiguous part of the Navajo Reservation, near El Morro, New Mexico. He is a self taught carver, capable of many different animal images and specializing in sculptures using gem stone materials. This ram is carved from adark purple piece of sugiite. Dimensions are 1.5“ x .75“ x .45“
APRAMsugie $235.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Alabaster Feathered Bear

Bernard Homer Jr. Alabaster Feathered Bear

Bernard Homer (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This bear is carved from Colorado alabaster. The parrot feather bundle is by well known Tesuque artist Mark Suazo Hinds. He has built a powerful pack consisting of turquoise, lapis, spiney oyster, olivella shell and abalone. The eyes are inlaid turquoise. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. size 6" x 2.75" x 2"
Bernard Homer Alabaster Feathered Bear $1895.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Azurite Bear SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr. Azurite Bear SOLD

Bernard Homer (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This bear is carved from a copper oxide from the old Blue Bird mine in Globe, Arizona and contains azurite, malachite and crysacola and was mined in the late 1950's or early 1960's. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. Size 1.75" x 1.25" x .75"
BHAzBear $265.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Bisbee Bear SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr. Bisbee Bear SOLD

SOLD This beautiful Bernard Homer Jr. bear is carved from stabilized turquoise from the famed Bisbee Mine Lavender Pit.
The protective arrow is spiny oyster and the offering is Mediterranean coral and Sleeping Beauty turquoise. The eyes are inlaid with coral. Size 1.5" x 1.5" x 1"
BHBiseeBear $275.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Cuprite with Crysacola Wolf  SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr. Cuprite with Crysacola Wolf SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr. (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This wolf is carved from cuprite and crysacola with traces of malachite, an unusual stone also known as Sonora Sunrise. He has built a powerful pack consisting of turquoise and Mediterranean coral with a spiny oyster arrow. The eyes are inlaid turquoise. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. Size 2" x .75" x .75"
BHCUPWolf $135  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Evans Turquoise Bear

Bernard Homer Jr. Evans Turquoise Bear

Bernard Homer (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This bear is carved from natural turquoise from the Evans Mine in Baja, California which has long been played out. He has built a powerful pack consisting of turquoise and Mediterranean coral with a spiny oyster arrow. The eyes are inlaid coral. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. Size 1.5" x 1" x .50". Zuni fetishes carved from natural turquoise are very rare and collectible.
EvansBear $225.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Fluorite Bear SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr. Fluorite Bear SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr. (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This bear is carved from fluorite, a material found in Mexico and containing . He has built a powerful pack consisting of turquoise and Mediterranean coral with a turquoise arrow. The eyes are inlaid turquoise. A very sweet bear that would be happy in any Zuni fetish collection. Size 1.5" x .50" x 1"
BHFLbear $75.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Green Sea Snail Fox SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr. Green Sea Snail Fox SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr.(deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This fox is carved from the nub of the rare turbo marmaratos shell, also known as the green sea snail. He has built a powerful pack consisting of turquoise and Mediterranean coral with a turquoise arrow. The eyes are inlaid turqoise. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. Size 3" x 1.50" x .75"
BHGSFox $195.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Mother of Pearl Wolf

Bernard Homer Jr. Mother of Pearl Wolf

Bernard Homer (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This bear is carved from mother of pearl shell. He has built a powerful pack consisting of Carico Lake turquoise and Sea of Japan coral with a lepidolite arrow (said to be primarily lithium, a mineral helpful for anxiety). The eyes are inlaid jet. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. Size 3.25" x 1.25" x .5"
BHPearlwolf $395.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Purple Mussel Wolf SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr. Purple Mussel Wolf SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr. (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This bear is carved from purple fresh water bank climber mussel shell/ He has built a powerful pack consisting of turquoise and Mediterranean coral with a turquoise arrow. The eyes are inlaid turquoise. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. Size 3" x 1" x .3"
BHMUSwolf $125.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Trimine Bear

Bernard Homer Jr. Trimine Bear

Bernard Homer Jr. (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This bear is carved from Arizona Trimine, a copper related mineral found near Youngs, Arizona He has built a powerful pack consisting of turquoise and Mediterranean coral with a fresh water pink mussel arrow. The eyes are inlaid coral. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. Size 3.25" x 1.50" x 1"
BHTRIbear $300.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr. Turquoise Wolf

Bernard Homer Jr. Turquoise Wolf

Bernard Homer (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This wolf is carved from natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise with quartz inclusions. This mine has been played out for some number of years. He has built a powerful pack consisting of turquoise and Mediterranean coral with a Picasso marble arrow. The eyes are inlaid coral. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. Size 2" x 1.25" x .75"
BHSBwolf $195.00  per choose quantity:
Bernard Homer Jr.Rhodocrocite Bear SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr.Rhodocrocite Bear SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr. (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This bear is carved from Argentinian Rhodocrocite. He has built a powerful pack consisting of turquoise and Mediterranean coral with a turquoise arrow. The eyes are inlaid turquoise. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. Size 1.25" x 1.25" x 1"
BHRHObear $165.00  per piece
Bernard Homer Jr.Utah Variscite Wolf SOLD

Bernard Homer Jr.Utah Variscite Wolf SOLD

Bernard Homer (deceased) was the grandson of famed Zuni fetish carver and silversmith Leekya Deyouse. This wolf is carved from Utah Variscite. He has built a powerful pack consisting of turquoise and Mediterranean coral with a Selenite arrow. The eyes are inlaid coral. An important piece for any Zuni fetish collection. Size 3.5" x 1.50" x 1.75"
BHVarWolf $395.00  per piece

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