Fetish Necklace
Artist
Leekya Deyuse
(North American Indian, Zuni, New Mexico, 1889 - 1966)
Dateca. 1935
MediumCoral, shell, turquoise, jet, cotton cord, and native tanned leather
DimensionsOverall: 16 inches (40.64 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mrs. David T. Beals
Object number68-5/12
On View
On viewGallery Location
- 207
Collections
Gallery LabelLeekya Deyuse is acknowledged as the most famous fetish carver of the 20th century. He was considered one of the most important innovators of his time, and his carvings are widely recognized for their technical perfection and subtle, undulating form. This magnificent work is the most elaborate fetish necklace he is known to have created, far surpassing others of the type in numbers of elements and sculptural mass. Each of the approximately 600 birds and animals was intricately carved, inlaid and hand-drilled for suspension, resulting in a masterpiece of American Indian jewelry.
Torrence, Gaylord, ed. Continuum: North American Native Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Kansas City: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
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