Zuni Maiden Fetish By Adrian Cachini

Late 20th/Early 21st Century

2.875" H x .875" L x 1.125" W

Hand Carved from Antler with Turquoise, Jet, Mother of Pearl and Coral Signed A C Zuni with Turquoise Chunks on the Head

Excellent Condition 

Adrian Cachini is a talented Zuni Pueblo artist from New Mexico, specializing in traditional Zuni fetish carvings. He hails from the Sepo Ponchuella family, a lineage of renowned Zuni carvers and jewelers who have passed down their craft through generations. Adrian is the brother of Delbert Cachini, another prominent carver known for intricate maiden and kachina-style figures. While Adrian primarily focuses on animal fetishes—such as snakes, badgers, mountain lions, and turtles—he contributes to the broader Zuni tradition of carvings that embody spiritual connections to nature, animals, and life forces. His works are hand-carved from materials like pipestone (catlinite), dolomite, onyx, and marble, often featuring inlaid turquoise accents for eyes, spots, or symbolic details. These pieces are prized by collectors for their fine detail, balance, and cultural authenticity.

A Zuni Maiden fetish (also called a Zuni corn maiden fetish) is a traditional Native American carving made by artisans of the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. These fetishes represent one of the most iconic and spiritually significant forms in Zuni fetish carving.