Zuni Pink Alabaster Pig Fetish Carving

A Big, Fat Whimsical Pig! A Stanton Hannaweeke Specialty.

For collectors of Zuini fetish carvings, the advent of more creativity in a very traditional art form brought a small group of carvers, including Stanton Hannaweeke into prominence with their unusual animal choices. Initially, confined to the traditional Native animal directional spirits and Prey gods, it's now not uncommon to find elephants, African lions, dolphins and bats carved. The resulting small jewel-like sculptures are a marvel.

This cute pink pig, measures 2 5/8" long and 1 1/4" high. It's carved in New Mexico Alabaster, which is one of the carver's favorite materials. It features inlaid turquoise eyes and a curly tail. Be sure to scroll down for the rest of the images.

Livestock fetish carvings, such as horses and sheep, were first introduced into Zuni Pueblo by Navajo families who managed the livestock on Zuni ranches. They are still used in fertility rituals and prayers, but the art form has grown beyond it's original ceremonial boundaries, and the result is carvings with fun and attitude, like this pig. Collectors will find their collections are not complete without at least one of this carvers pigs.