This is a Zuni animal fetish carving.Made of green onyx. Hand carved horned toad lizard with turquoise eyes. This animal fetish represents self-reliance, longevity and protects ancestral bounty. This piece of Native American Southwestern art was handmade by Zuni artistan, a member of the Zuni Pueblo. Measures 1/2 inches & tall 2.75 inches long
Zuni fetishes are small carvings made from primarily stone but also shell, fossils, and other materials by the Zuni people. Within the Zuni community, these carvings serve ceremonial purposes for their creators and depict animals and icons integral to their culture. As a form of contemporary Native American art, they are sold with secular intentions to collectors worldwide. Prior to the establishment of a non-Native market for fetishes, Hopi, Navajo, and other Pueblo peoples, especially at Kewa Pueblo also carved and used fetishes.