Powerful Bear

Donovan Laiwakete carved this Powerful Bear from Picasso marble.  It has inlaid turquoise eyes and three beautiful heartlines from its mouth to its heart.  The offering bundle has a gold mother of pearl arrowhead with melon shell, coral, turquoise, clam shell, and heishi.  "DL" and "Zuni" are carved into the bottom of what its paws.

Size: 2.5" H x 3.75" L x 1" 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.