F565 Limestone Bear
Limestone bear by Zuni carver Clissa Martin. The 1 3/4” x 7/8” x 5/8” bear has turquoise eyes and an inlay dragonfly on his hindquarters. The natural limestone is unpolished.
The Zuni believe the bear is endowed with curative powers, strength, adaptability & courage - powers that can influence both the spiritual & physical realm.
Clissa Martin and her sister Felissa Martin are the daughters of Carol Martinez - the miniature horse carver known for inlaying a hand on their rumps. We believe the sisters are both in their late twenties or early thirties. Clissa Martin has created a style uniquely her own, starting out carving turtles, maidens and bears, then branching out to carve as of late; squirrels, frogs, beavers, foxes & rabbits always adding a dragonfly on the back of each animal she creates.
About the artist
CLISSA MARTIN
(Zuni Pueblo)
Clissa Martin is an accomplished stone carver. Her fetishes are typically signed with her initials and most often are inlaid with a dragonfly. Her color contrasting dragonflies are turquoise, coral, lapis and other stones. Another inlay is the bumble bee.
Clissa is related to many prominent carvers and families in Zuni, including the Laates, Quams and Kammasees. The dragonfly is an important fetish and symbol for almost all Southwestern tribes. Dragonflies hover near and above water, so they are powerful symbols of good luck in the desert, especially for dry farmers (dependent on rainfall) like the Zuni.
