Vintage Zuni-style carved turtle fetish featuring a dark black stone body with small turquoise inlay dots throughout the shell, head and sides.
The turtle has a rounded carved shell with incised geometric segmentation, a projecting head, carved feet and multiple turquoise-colored dot inlays.
I believe this is a Zuni Pueblo turtle fetish carving, likely carved from black onyx or a similar dark stone with turquoise inlay. The overall shape, shell carving and small turquoise inlay details are consistent with traditional Zuni turtle fetishes. I have not been able to confidently identify an individual artist from the visible markings, so the maker is being left unidentified.
Details
* Type: Turtle fetish carving
* Cultural attribution: Zuni / Southwestern Native American
* Material: Black onyx or similar dark stone
* Inlay: Turquoise
* Weight: 30.15 grams
* Length: approximately 2 inches
* Width: approximately 1½ inches
* Hand-carved and incised shell design
* Multiple turquoise dot inlays
Condition
Vintage condition with visible age and handling wear.
There is damage/chipping to two of the carved feet, with small areas of stone loss visible in the photographs. Minor scratches and surface wear are also present. The main body, head and shell remain intact, and the turquoise inlay dots appear largely present.
Please review all photographs closely, particularly the underside and feet, as the images form an important part of the condition description.
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