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These sweet, swaying maidens are made from a fossilized walrus tooth. Laws in some states now prohibit you from owning fossil ivory even though no animals were harmed in its harvest (dug from tundra or washed up on shore) and the animal it was once attached to died eons ago! I suppose it has to do with keeping confusion down regarding elephant ivory -- and by outlawing it all, it reduces the opportunity for poached ivory to sneak into our country. In any case, rest assured that this was harvested from a long deceased walrus but check your state's laws regarding ownership. When this piece by Colvin was carved, there was an abundance of fossil ivory being used by a variety of carvers. Now, it's rare to see a contemporary fetish made from fossil ivory. So, these pretty girls might be a standout in your collection in years to come as the material itself already seems to be in short supply. Additionally and very sadly, Colvin Peina passed away in 2005 from diabetes complications. He was a very active carver and Dave met him a couple of times in Zuni, but I never had the opportunity to. We enjoyed his badgers and standing bears and then were smitten by his maidens. This one is petite, measuring only 2" tall but you can see that the etching detail and inlay is elaborate and perfect. We have had this carving since the late 1990's. It is unsigned.
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ZUNI SPIRITS - FINE ZUNI FETISHES DIRECTLY FROM ZUNI PUEBLO, NM | ||