Eli Cheama's latest offering of an Indigenous Chieftain figurine from fish rock serpentine was inspired by a piece he saw his father the late great carver Fabian Cheama make when he was just a boy. As Eli weathered the creative storm, he said the process wasn't so peaceful. It was a creative purge of sorts, something he found must be brought into reality to find an inner peace, perhaps an unintended metaphor. This hard-won masterpiece was well-worth it in the end, as he said that ultimately "it represents peace, hence the peace pipe."

Fine details such as a feathered war bonnet and breastplate are exquisitely rendered. Soulful eyes are from jet paste. The miniature pipe is sculpted from pipestone also known as catlinite. Its deep reddish color and texture has made it a prized material to carve ceremonial pipes that carry prayers to the Creator according to some traditional beliefs. Dimensions in their entirety are about 2 7/8" tall, 2 1/8" wide and 2 1/4" deep.

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Zuni artist Frankie Eustace started carving when he was 25 years old. We asked him what he would like folks to know about his carvings and he said "I enjoy making them. After they are finished, I say a prayer "Thank you for letting it come out”. If they break, I don’t throw them away. Just like reality, if someone gets sick, you don’t throw them away." His latest offering is a winding Snake sculpted from ricolite which is a mineral from the serpentine family. Red coral inlays enhance the natural beauty of the stone. Sweet eyes are from turquoise inlays. About 3 7/8" long, 1 1/8" wide and 1/4" tall.

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Nestled in a sandy depression on the desert floor, Larry Peina's precious horned Lizard hatchling learns how to sit and wait for an unsuspecting harvester red ant to walk by. Sculpted from serpentine with gorgeous natural layering, this turquoise-eyed baby has softly-sculpted spines and horns. Approximately 2 1/4" long, 2" wide and 3/4" tall.

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We are part of the intricate web of interdependent relationships in creation including that of majestic horses who teach us that synergistic friendships are the best. They also teach us to be patient with animal creation and ourselves. Daryl Shack, Sr.'s handsome serpentine Horse has welcoming eyes from cultured opal inlays. Intricate grooving details a gorgeous mane and tail on this roughly 2 1/8" long, 1/2" wide and 1 1/2" tall sweet companion. View item

Spirited Hummingbirds are Justin Red Elk's carving specialty. He was inspired by the zippy feathered friends flying around his window, which we're all thankful for because they are truly heartwarming creations. His latest offering is from fish rock serpentine with a lovely peach alabaster addition on the face. A lovely long bill is from gold lip shell and little eyes are from jet inlays. About 1 5/8" long, 3/4" wide and 1 5/8" tall.

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Eagle's (or Hawk's) animal medicine can be about staying dedicated to our goals despite obstacles because its unwavering focus is mindful, meditative and concentrating, qualities we can emulate. Daryl Shack, Sr.'s raptor gives energy to a single objective. Sculpted from a speckled serpentine, this handsome raptor is about 4 1/4" long, 3/4" wide and 2 1/2" tall. Committed eyes are from cool cultured opal inlays. A signature Shack Stack offering bundle has red coral, turquoise and other delicious morsels.

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Vivella Cheama's prayerful angel is carved from fish rock serpentine. An apron has an etched flower, while a gown is embellished with incised flowers adorned with lapis lazuli centers. Elegant wings have intricate details. Lapis lazuli earrings, necklace and bracelets are inlaid. Eyes are from jet paste and a bright coral inlay represents a voice that bestows sweet tidings to all. About 2 7/8" tall, 1" wide and 1" deep. View item

Spirit and strength is felt in Daryl Shack, Sr.'s Tablita Maiden with beautifully sculpted long hair. Cultured opal inlays catch the eye in the traditional stair-stepped headdress, facial features and lovely necklace accents. Showing reverence and a deep connection to Zuni heritage, she stands strong at approximately 2 7/8" tall, 1" wide and 7/8" deep, carved from serpentine.

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Bison are undoubtedly powerful majestic creatures. An adult male can weigh around 2,000 pounds. Get out of the way because they are also surprisingly fast running like the wind around 40 miles per hour. Vivella Cheama's fish rock serpentine buffalo has wonderful fur etching, stubby horns, sweetly etched ears, nose and a little beard plus colorful turquoise inlaid eyes. About 2 3/8" long, 3/4" wide and roughly 1 5/8" tall.

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Camouflaging horned Lizard has an attractively carved crown of horns as it patiently waits for an unsuspecting red harvester ant to walk by, the perfect snack. Serpentine is a lovely choice by David Chavez, Jr. to sculpt the reptile from because a horned lizard's natural dorsal coloring matches the soil and pebbles where it lives. About 2 1/8" long, 1" wide and 1/2" tall.

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A desert-varnished sandstone cliff face in Wyoming is called Legend Rock where ancient Indigenous Peoples carved important spiritual symbols and designs that are now called petroglyphs. Among the iconography is a magnificent wing-spread golden eagle. Golden eagles are sacred to the Plains Indigenous tribes who still visit the sight, their ancestral lands, regarded with great spiritual significance. To this day golden eagles still nest nearby. Eastern Shoshone oral stories told by elders speak of the golden eagle as a gift from the Creator. Eli Cheama's powerful perched Eagle (or Hawk) has been carved from fish rock serpentine with warm yellow hues. Plumage is elegantly detailed and sharp-sighted eyes are from turquoise inlays. About 2 3/8" tall, 1" wide and 1 3/8" deep.

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Jimmy Yawakia's wonderful Turtle is at ease wherever it goes as a protective carapace acts as a shield. Turtle's animal medicine illustrates that a grounding presence can help us to observe distressing situations from a safe place. Benevolent eyes are from sky blue turquoise inlays. A lovely etched shell compliments the natural beauty of the verdant serpentine. About 2 3/8" long, 1 1/4" wide and 1/2" tall. View item

Heishe which means shell, are small hand-rolled beads from Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pueblo. They are traditionally made from shell and materials like turquoise. Nick Rosetta is renowned for micro heishe jewelry, doing his own exquisite lapidary work. Behold this triple strand jet, serpentine and sterling silver heishe necklace that's about 18 1/2". It hangs at approximately 9" long. The individual beads are roughly 1/8" long, while the silver ones measure about 3/16". A sophisticated and visually striking work of wearable art that will garner many compliments. Signed by the artist.

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Wolves are apex predators. Breeding for life, a male and female pair take the lead during a hunt, keeping predator and prey in balance. The leftovers provide food for others. A hierarchical order exists within the pack and each animal knows its place yet retains an individuality. Spine-tingling howls send territorial messages. Respected for their spiritual significance, a wolf is one of the animals within a Six-Directions grouping, associated with strong hunting powers by the A:Shiwi (The People). Inspiring intelligent leadership and loyalty in life, wolves admonish heartfelt communication within the family. Bernard Laiwakete's approximately 3" long, 1/2" wide and 1 7/8" tall serpentine Wolf (Coyote or Fox) honors the bushytail way of life. Turquoise eyes and an alternating heartline or breath path are inlaid.

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The harvest season comes to the Pueblo late summer. Cody Chavez's Corn Maiden represents the bounty and sacred importance of Corn. For the A:Shiwi (The People) and other Indigenous societies, growing corn is a sustenance crop called the Mother because it’s cultivated from Mother Earth. Carved from serpentine with dimensional layers of toffee-hued goodness, measurements of Corn Maiden are about 2 3/8" tall, 5/8" wide and 1 3/8" deep. Assured eyes and accent inlays are from turquoise. A Zuni Sunface symbol from inlaid coral, jet and turquoise represents a balance of the elements.

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Sea turtles like the leatherback enjoy eating deep-sea jellyfish and will dive to extraordinary depths of more than 4,000 feet in search of them. Avery Calavaza's wonderful sea Turtle plunges head first. Coral inlays represent eyes and accent the etched carapace of this approximately 3" long, 1" wide and roughly 2 1/4" tall deep-diving reptile. It can be positioned a couple of different ways too. Also, the serpentine specimen is lively with natural bits of hematite. View item

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.

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Bear cubs love hard play-fighting and wrestling which helps them learn how to protect themselves and get strong while they grow. Waldo Davis' adorable cub is ready for more recreation, carved from a handsome serpentine and inlaid with expressive eyes from jet inlays. Paws are sweetly etched. About 4" tall, 1" wide and 1 3/4" deep. View item

This vivid green serpentine stone surely captured Zuni carver Cody Chavez's imagination though which he created this marvelous and slightly mischievous reptile. The lizard has a wide sturdy body measuring about 3" long by 1 1/4" tall. The curious eyes are chameleon-like and set high on the head, standing at 3/4" tall and inlaid with turquoise stones. The surface of the reptile's body is incised with a scale like diamond pattern. Take a close look at this adorable creature's facial expression set with a roguish zigzag grin.

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This happy Bear is ready for the fall season. Lazily day dreaming, it strolls through the woods admiring the color of the leaves littering the trail. Carved from a gorgeously speckled serpentine by Avery Calavaza who also inlaid red coral eyes. Bears have powers that we do not and are revered by Indigenous cultures. They are the most prevalent subject of Zuni fetish carvings. By honoring a bear’s natural traits like strength, journeying, protection, mothering, hunting and gathering, we can awaken similar attributes within ourselves. About 3 3/8" long, 1 1/8" wide and 1 3/4" tall. View item