Zuni Pueblo Bear Fishing Fetish By Waldo Davis

Late 20th Century

2" H x 1" L x 1" W + 3.25" Total Length with Pole

Hand Carved from Black and White Stone with Turquoise Fish and Wood Pole with Inlaid Jet Eyes on Bear and Fish

From a Private Colorado Collection

Excellent Condition

Waldo Davis is a skilled Zuni Pueblo fetish carver known for creating detailed animal carvings from materials like white marble, fluorite, and picasso marble. His works include bears, foxes, badgers, and pigs, often sold through galleries specializing in Native American art.

A "bear fishing" fetish depicts a bear holding or catching a fish, a popular theme in Zuni carvings. It combines the bear—guardian of the West, symbolizing strength, healing, protection, and introspection—with the fish, which may represent abundance or life's flow. These narrative-style fetishes show animals in action and are common among Zuni artists.