One Fish Three Bears

One Fish Three Bears was carved by Daisy (Natewa) Leonard from green serpentine, Picasso marble, and white alabaster with a hint of yellow.  Their eyes are inlaid turquoise or jet.  Their offering bundle is a pink mussel shell arrowhead with three turquoise beads.  The fish is carved from shell.

Size: 1.25" H x 2" L x 1.5" W

Bears are the guardians of the western gate in Zuni Pueblo.  They are associated with healing at all levels, protection, and a reminder to restore oneself during the winter months.  In some traditions a part of the bear is rubbed all over infants to imbue them with power, strength, and good health.

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.