Vintage Southwest Zuni Style Fetish Necklace 53 Carved Heishi 16.5 inch Signed For Sale

Vintage Southwest Zuni Style Fetish Necklace – 53 Carved Animals & Birds – 16.5" – Signed

Beautiful and distinctive vintage Southwest Zuni-style fetish necklace featuring a double-strand design with 53 individually carved animal and bird figures separated by small heishi-style spacers.

The carvings include a wide variety of animal and bird forms in cream, gray, red/orange, turquoise-colored and other natural tones, giving the necklace a richly varied handcrafted appearance. The necklace measures approximately 16.5 inches long and is finished with metal cone ends and a clasp.

One of the metal cone ends bears a distinctive stamped geometric/pictographic mark, shown clearly in the photographs. The piece was also represented at the estate sale where it was acquired as being signed.

This necklace has the classic visual character associated with Southwestern Zuni-style fetish jewelry, with numerous carved figures, heishi-style spacers and a highly detailed double-strand construction. It makes an appealing piece for collectors of vintage Southwest jewelry, carved fetish necklaces and unusual artisan jewelry.

Original sale Description / Attribution

This necklace was acquired at an estate sale where it was described as a “Rare Sterling Native American Fetish Necklace” and was also described by the sale as “signed.”

That information is included to accurately communicate how the necklace was represented when acquired. I have not independently authenticated the maker, tribal affiliation, exact age or origin, and the metal and carved materials have not been professionally tested.

Accordingly, the necklace is being described as Southwest / Zuni style based on its visible design, carved fetish figures and construction, rather than as a confirmed work by a particular Zuni artist or maker.

The stamped mark may be a maker's or workshop mark, but its identity has not been confirmed.