Dan Quam Zuni Fetish Carver
Dan Quam along with his brothers, Lance Cheama and Wilfred Cheama, created the lifelike style of Zuni fetish carving.
It should be pointed out, that for a Zuni fetish to look as these fetish sculptures do they must first reach the point of a beautiful traditional fetish. It is from this starting point that the very precise detailing and incising begins. Few fetish carvers in Zuni are capable of this level of carving.
A word of caution. All Zuni fetishes are fragile. Natural stones simply can not be dropped or handled roughly without resulting in damage. These lifelike Zuni fetish carvings are particularly fragile because the stone has been so finely shaped.
However, the collector who exercises the necessary care in handling and display is well rewarded. These carvings are magic. Anyone who sees, or better yet holds one is amazed. The skill, patience and courage (carvers break them too) necessary to create a Zuni fetish like this is beyond belief.
Dan Quam Zuni Fetish Bobcat
Carved out of Brown Picasso marble
1 3/4″ long x 1 1/8″ tall
$265
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Zuni Fetish Brown Picasso Marble Mountain Lion
Carved by Dan Quam
3 3/8″
$625
(Jeanine Fenton Collection)
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Zuni Fetish Picasso Marble Wolf
Carved by Dan Quam
3 1/2″
$665
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