Native American stone carving is an art that survives from pre-history. Zuni Fetish and stone carving have been a part of the Zuni culture for hundreds of years. The more modern Native American stone carving in alabaster, limestone, and other media are a more recent expression of American Indian art and no less intriguing. Both are collected for their beauty and artistic value and make welcome additions of Southwestern decor.
Zuni fetishes are another example of ceremonialism that has become a beautiful Native American art form as well. True fetishes are carved by most Native American tribes to ceremonially capture the spirit of the animal they represent. Ceremonial fetishes are often tied with offerings of stones, shell, or feathers and are "fed" with corn pollen or other foods as an offering to the spirit of the fetish. The Zuni and other Pueblo tribes keep their fetishes in jars inside of their kivas, bringing them out only for certain ceremonies. The Zuni also carve animal figures and fetishes for art. These carvings are never meant for ceremony, yet certain taboos and restrictions are still observed in their creation. These American Indian stone carvings are made from a variety of stone and shell and are carved by hand giving each their own unique character.
Another form of Native American stone carving has come to the fore in recent years. These hand carved sculptures, often of Native Limestone, alabaster, and other minerals, do not have their roots in ceremonialism but are created for artistic display. Nevertheless, many of these striking creations reflect the themes of Native American religion and cosmology. Sometimes realistic, depicting scenes from everyday life and sometimes interpretive, expressing ideas of Native American spirituality often using ancient symbols and ideas in modern form, these sculptures are a unique expression of the individual Native American artist’s heritage and creativity. Like all Native American art, these carvings and sculptures provide an interesting and dramatic contrast to any decor and do not limit themselves to strictly Southwest decor or exclusive displays of American Indian art.
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