Navajo or Zuni Wood Carved Turtle Fetish

Late 20th Century

3.25" H x 3.625" x 4" D

Hand Carved from Wood of a Turtle with Colorful Feathers and Stones as a Offering on its Back

From a Private Colorado Collection

Excellent Condition

The turtle motif is more classically associated with Zuni Pueblo carvers (who pioneered much of the modern fetish tradition in the late 19th century), Navajo artisans have long incorporated it into their own works, often blending it with Navajo cosmology and symbolism. Fetishes like these are not mere decorations; they are considered living spirits that provide protection, guidance, and power to their owners when treated with respect—such as by "feeding" them cornmeal or offering prayers.