Edna Leki and Teddy Weahkee
 Zuni Fetish Carvings

Teddy Weahkee / Edna Leki Collaboration

Jadeite Serpentine Zuni Fetish Bear

circa late 1940's
  or 1950's

2 1/2" long

Dinah Gasper came by the Sedonawolf studio yesterday and
identified this most unusual carving. The following comments
are from our conversation about this bear.

It was carved long ago when Teddy Weahkee, his daughter
Edna Leki and children (Dinah, Lena, etc) gathered in his
 studio to help him carve. This particular fetish is from
that period. Dinah identified the carving as that of her
mother Edna and the arrowhead, the offering, leather
 wrap with natural sinew as that of her grandfather.

Zuni families still gather like this and help each other.

Consider this a very Rare carving. I doubt I will come
across another.

The fetish is beautifully hand carved. The Jadeite is a hard
stone that seems to glow light green from
deep within the fetish.

It is wrapped with rawhide and sinew as Teddy Weahkee
customarily did. The carved arrowhead and offering bundle are
consistent with the style of Mr. Weahkee. The eyes are
hand drilled and filled with pitch or tar.

It is not signed which is normal for fetishes of this era.

$3,825

Teddy Weahkee Zuni Fetish Carvings

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The following fetishes are sold. They remain here for reference.

Edna Leki and Teddy Weahkee Zuni Fetish Carvings

Edna Leki was the daughter of Teddy Weahkee. Teddy Weahkee was
among the earliest recorded Zuni fetish carvers.

Weahkee family carvings are very true to those Zuni fetishes actually
used in Zuni ceremonies. See the 1890's Frank Cushing
report to the Smithsonian.

Edna's fetish carvings changed over the years.

Edna passed away in the late 1990's. She stopped carving a few
years before her death when a fire destroyed her studio.

Here is a beautiful turquoise bear from the late 1980's or
 early 1990's. It was when her vision was good. Late in her life,
 Edna's vision deteriorated and the eyes of her fetishes
were misplaced.

Arizona Globe Turquoise

The host stone appears a gold

2 1/8"

$455 Sold

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A rare and magnificent Teddy Weahkee Zuni Fetish Carving

It is difficult to identify the Zuni fetish animal Teddy Weahkee carved here.
 The face is that of a bear. The tail could belong to a wolf or coyote.
Yet, the natural markings in the stone have the tail coming
 over the back like that of a Mountain Lion.

Images abound in the Serpentine. A human face clearly appears in the
fetishes left front leg. Kólowissi (the Zuni Serpent of the Sea)
 or a snake appears above the left rear leg.

1920's  1930's

3" long

$6,225 - Sold

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This next fetish was carved very early in Edna Leki's career.

Very Early Edna Leki Zuni Fetish Carving

Dolomite

I believe this fetish was made when Edna was a proficient
 carver but still a young woman.

The bear's face has an innocence that later disappears.

Did you notice the bear concretion on the bear's right side??

The leather wrap and offering are similar
 to her father's.
 

2 1/8"

$825 - Sold

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Museum Piece - Edna Leki (deceased) Fetish Bowl

Sold... but details remain published here as a collectors reference