Zuni lizard fetish by Karen Zunie. This 2 .75” x 1” lizard is carved from fish rock and has turquoise eyes.
The lizard is a symbol of good fortune, relaxation, wisdom and silence.
Karen Zunie is related to the Cheama family by marriage and is a talented fetish carver in her own right.
About the artist
Karen Zunie
Karen Zuni comes from a family of Zuni fetish carvers: mother (Verna Zunie), ex-husband (Lance Cheama), brother-in-law (Wilfred Cheama), and nephew (Cody Cheama). Her detailed carvings are a favorite of fetish collectors.
Karen Zunie began carving years ago when she was married to Lance Cheama in the late 1980’s. She started by polishing his completed carvings. For the next decade or more, Karen was as prolific a carver as Lance. They had one child together. But the marriage did not last and the couple broke up in the early 2000s. Now her fetishes are becoming harder and harder to find.
Although Karen Zuni fetishes are similar to Lance’s, Karen’s carvings have a wonderful quality all their own. When Karen Zunie is at her best, her ability to carve very small fetishes is among the best in the Zuni Pueblo.
