This Vintage 30" long necklace features 39 genuine hand carved semi precious gemstone animal fetishes and a soft cotton 1/4" wide Grandmother Wrap that's 18" long, The fetish portion of the necklace is slightly more than 12" in length. The large Jet Standing Bear is approximately 2" tall. The small fetishes are carved from leopard stone, Turquoise, black and white Jet, Pipestone, pink Serpentine, Picasso marble, Lapis, Wild Horse, Amber, and several varieties of jasper's. Native Americans believe that a little of an animal's spirit is imbeded with each animal fetish they carve.This necklace boasts two large jet walking bears with heart lines in Turquoise, foxes, small bears, wolves, armadillos, Rams, horses, Buffalo and a Central large protective jet standing bear in the center. The Meaning of the animals that are all included in this fetish wreath: Armadillo - Slow, Sure, Gets things right. Keeper of the home. Badger - Aggressiveness, Perseverance, the ability to reach a desired goal. Bear - Strength, Introspection, spiritual journey though life, long life. Buffalo - Endurance to overcome, great emotional courage provider to all. Coyote - Laughter, humor and foolishness, the master trickster who tricks himself. Fox - Camouflage, protection.Hawk - messenger of the gods. Mountain Lion- leadership, resourcefulness. Ram - sense of self worth.Wolf - Teacher, pathfinder, sharing of your knowledge, never ending journey. The Zuni believe that animals are more like the deities and have more power than man.
A fetish is a rock carving of an animal that captures the spirit and the essence of the animal, not necessarily its exact detailed conformation. Handcarved from many types of rock such as Pipestone, Serpentine, Picasso Marble, White Marble, Fishrock, etc.