A glorious 9-piece nativity set has been creatively sculpted from burnished antler by master carver Troy Sice. Each adorable Bear has been lovingly detailed and delicately inlaid with various semi-precious stones and shells. The mix includes bright coral, happy turquoise, watery abalone, iridescent gold lip shell, spiny oyster shell, vibrant lapis lazuli, serpentine, mother-of-pearl and rich jet. The shepherd carries a gleaming silver staff and the angel has a stunning set of gold lip shell wings. The three wise bears and the angel each wear an elegant gold lip shell feather on their heads. In Zuni tradition, this signifies that one is going through a spiritual journey or process in order to fulfill a ceremonial obligation. The figures are about 3" to 3 3/8" tall and 1 1/8" to 1 5/8" wide. Baby bear is about 1 3/8" long. Each creature has lovely pen shell inlaid eyes. A set to treasure!

Journeying to other places, Wilson Romero's Bear from found stone will travel in strength and wisdom. This gorgeous found stone's inclusions are like the varied landscapes a bear passes through. One of the variations resembles a natural continuous heartline or breath path. A small hole will be fun to visit. About 4" long, 2" wide and 2" tall.

Burt Awelagte's mighty Bear grunts and growls through an open mouth. In nature bear's emit low volume grunts and growls, sometimes as a friendly hello to other bears. This wonderfully reactive one has been excellently carved from Picasso marble to a size of roughly 2 1/4" long, 7/8" wide and 1 5/8" tall. Eyes are from turquoise inlays. An offering bundle is laced with turquoise and honey-hued amber beads.

Bears are the most prevalent subject of Zuni carvings. By honoring a bear’s natural traits such as strength, journeying, protection, mothering, hunting and gathering, we can awaken similar attributes within ourselves. Kateri Quandelacy Sanchez's blue calcite Bear with jet inlaid eyes, is sculpted to a size of roughly 2 3/8" long, 1 3/8" wide and 2" tall. An offering bundle is chock full of goodies like warm amber, luscious garnet and other fascinating beads.

Rhodochrosite was first noted in 1813 in the silver mines of present day Romania. This lovely mineral is said to bring joy to your life, heal old wounds and help you to love yourself and others unconditionally. Rhodochrosite's organic pink color results from the manganese content. Brian Yatsattie sources extraordinary materials to create collectible fetishes like this gorgeous rhodochrosite Medicine-Bear that measures about 2 1/2" long, 3/4" wide and 2" tall. Eyes are from jet inlays.

Serape jasper is from the Crazy Lace Mine near Chihuahua, Mexico. It is named after the colorful and traditional serape blanket. An incredible variety of colors and patterns have formed naturally as seen in Christopher Sandoval's Bear or Medicine-Bear chiseled with finesse to a dimension of about 2 1/8" long, 3/8" wide and 1 7/8" tall. Either side displays unique formations and hues. Eyes are from turquoise inlays.

A precious and upright Bear will inspire you to get up, be joyful and curious each day. Being playful stimulates the mind and boost creativity. Carved from picture jasper and inlaid with turquoise eyes by Cody Chavez, dimensions are roughly 2 1/4" tall, 3/4" wide and 1" deep. A Zuni Sunface is set with jet, coral and turquoise.

Alabaster is a mineral in the gypsum family adored throughout time because of versatility and ease of carving. Jacob Wilson's charming Bear has been sculpted from a gorgeous alabaster to a size of approximately 2 5/8" long, 3/4" wide and 1 1/2" tall. Little ears are drilled and eyes are from turquoise inlays. Bears are revered by Indigenous cultures because they have powers that we do not.

When asked by Pautiwa The Sun Father what he wanted, Anshe (Bear) replied that he desired to go to Zuni with the other Katsina spirits. His request granted, the other Katsinas had him take off his fur coat and dressed him like a Katsina to be part of a Mixed Dance. Felino Eriacho's stunning Bear Katsina doll is hand-carved from cottonwood. He makes the pastel-like pigments from plants and minerals he forages, mixing them according to tradition and experience. This practice can take a full year to complete due to seasonal changes. These natural paints are mesmerizingly beautiful giving the carving a softly-aged appearance. The gorgeous blue hues are derived from lapis lazuli and turquoise. An offering necklace is laced with turquoise and branch red coral beads. The carved feather element is securely glued to the head, otherwise the entire woodwork is one piece. Including base, measurements are about 7 1/2" tall, roughly 2 3/8" wide and 2 1/8" deep. Signed by the artist.

We're thrilled to share a collectible and rare 5-stand fetish necklace circa 1975, by the Tsikewa family. This noted group of Zuni Pueblo carvers has lineage from the late great artist Teddy Weahkee. His daughter was Mary Tsikewa who was married to David Tsikewa, famous for his fetish necklaces. Their family includes Lavina Tsikewa Kaskalla and Rudy Tsikewa among others.

Labor intensive to carve, each exquisite feathered friend and powerful Bear represent the interconnectedness of all living things. There are even white bears present on the strands indicative of healing and strength. Each carving is worthy of visitation and appreciation. Rich materials include hand-rolled fine baby olive snail heishe, turquoise, golden gold lip shell, Pacific green snail shell, mother-of-pearl, vivid red coral, spiny oyster shell, iridescent abalone, serpentine and pink mussel shell. The tiniest animals are about 1/2" long, while the largest ones are approximately 1 1/4" long. Eyes are drilled and filled with jet paste. The overall length of this masterpiece is about 30" long, weighing 53 grams.

Master carver Felino Eriacho and his good friend fellow carver Fred Bowannie, Jr. hike around Zuni land to find incredible local materials to create animal carvings from. A stunning portion of found septarian is from the Fence Lake area near Zuni. Felino transformed the septarian into a wonderful fishing Bear with sweet pen shell eyes to a height of approximately 4 1/2" tall, 4" wide and 4 1/2" long. Beautifully polished, a stunning network of calcite formations create amazing texture and are fun to inspect. Two small natural crevices in the calcite are enchanting enough to warrant visiting with a small flashlight. The wonderfully etched fish has pen shell eyes. Signed by the artist.

Similar to fordite or other motor agates, surfite is a by-product material created when surfboards are made. The process of making surfboards includes pouring resin over foam and fiberglass forms. The excess resin from multiple boards will pool and harden on the shop floor creating beautiful and dazzling patterns when cross sectioned. This resin will not decompose if thrown into a landfill so the creation of Zuni fetish carvings gives this material new life as a faux gemstone. Since the designs from surfite are organically created and unique, each piece carved from surfite is just as special. We're admiring the great color formations seen in this approximately 3 1/4" long, 5/8" wide and 2" tall groovy surfite Bear by Larry Peina. Cute eyes are from turquoise inlays, while a serpentine point offering bundle is secured.

Crouching low, Stevan Natachu's serpentine Bear takes in the scents of the forest through a jet inlaid nose. Eyes from turquoise enjoy the views. An offering bundle is composed from a stunning point that is arranged stone to stone with colorful turquoise, spiny oyster shell and jet. Approximately 4" long, 2" wide and 1 1/4" tall. A gorgeous fetish to remind us to protect and respect wildlife.

Clayton Panteah's journeying Bear has been carved from an amazing specimen of spirit stone fluorite, marbled with deep lavender, teal green and golden hues. Clayton's precise fur etching only enhances the beauty within this mineral that's said to promote calmness and refreshed energy. Eyes are bright from turquoise inlays. About 2 1/2" long, 1 1/8" wide and 1 1/8" tall.

A bear's animal medicine or its natural traits encompass qualities like strength, healing, journeying and family. Carved from a handsome piece of onyx whose two sides are equally beautiful, Bernard Laiwakete's strong Bear measures about 4 5/8" long, 1 3/4" wide and 2 1/2 tall. An exquisitely inlaid alternating turquoise heartline and eyes light up the golden and milky hues of the mineral. The heartline represents the breath or essence of an animal. The offering bundle from a Zuni Sunface element along with heishe beads is a gift from the carver honoring the bear's spirit. The neat Sunface button is created from turquoise, coral, jet and mother-of-pearl.

With lips parted and teeth showing, Armond Sandoval's excited travertine Bear cub smiles wide. Happy eyes are from marble inlays, while an offering necklace has small turquoise and coral beads. A lot of etching marks show fur detail, while paws are etched and perhaps filled with jet paste. A darling upright friend measuring about 4" tall, 1 3/8" wide and 2" deep.

Amethyst is a variety of quartz said to lift one's spirits and sooth emotions. Frankie Poblano Chattin's sweetly-spirited Bear has been smoothly sculpted from this semi-precious gem bursting with captivating violet color. Hopeful eyes are from turquoise inlays. In a gesture of gratitude for a bear's animal medicine of strength, hunting, journeying, healing and mothering, among other amazing qualities, Frankie secured an offering bundle containing a lovely turquoise point accompanied by coral and balancing tourmalated quartz beads. About 3 5/8" long, 1 3/4" wide and 1 3/8" tall.

It is easy to get caught up in the frantic energy of the world and the constant stimulation of society, but Bear reminds us that it is also important to take time for ourselves. Bear medicine emphasizes rest and rejuvenation, as that is the only time in which we can recuperate our own bodies and minds for the many journeys to come.

Carved from onyx with a beautifully layered and swirling quality to the colors like a riverbed, Rosella and Loubert Soseeah’s bear companion is 1 ⅝” long, 1 ⅛” wide, and 1 ½” tall. With turquoise eyes and a wide, round face, this little bear gives off a trustworthy air.