F423 Corn Maidens
Pipestone Corn Maidens by Zuni fetish carver Sandra Quandelacy. The 2 1/2” x 1 3/8” x 1/2” fetish has Corn Maidens on both sides, embellished with pink coral and turquoise or mother of pearl and jet.
The Corn Maiden is symbolic of the Zuni legend in which she saved the Zuni tribe from starvation. In Zuni today, the Corn Maidens appear in the spring and bring food offerings for Ceremonies and other rituals. She assures the Zunis a plentiful harvest.
About the artist
Sandra Quandelacy
1955-present
Daughter of Ellen and Dixie Quandelacy, Sandra started carving as a child and then turned to making jewelry as an adult. Learning from her mother and father, she produced raised channel inlay work in the Quandelacy family style, often using the double hummingbird design that her mother originated. More recently, Sandra has returned to fetish carving, specializing in the corn maiden fetish, a form that her sister Faye created.
Sandra Quandelacy is also a maiden specialist. She does not carve the large fetishes that Faye once carved. Sandra achieves consistent fine quality in the detail work on her maidens. Every maiden collector should have one or two maidens by Sandra in addition to what he/she has collected by Faye. Sandra does some unique fetish necklaces with ears of corn.
