Rare and highly collectable petrified ivory fetish necklace by Master Carvers, Pete and Dinah Gaspar. There are 31 beautifully hand-carved fetishes that consist of birds, fish, turtles, foxes, bears, mountain lions, rams, frogs, ducks, beavers, owls, and tadpoles. Petrified ivory is very difficult to carve, and the detail on these fetishes is expertly done. The turquoise beads are hand-rolled, and the hallmark tag guarantees it's authenticity. Truly one of the most beautiful fetish necklaces I've ever seen.
For Dinah Gaspar, carving began when she was growing up in Zuni Pueblo. She was taught by a family of famed carvers, including her grandfather, Teddy Weahkee, and her mother, Edna Leki. Dinah and her sister, Lena Boone, learned side-by-side, and both became expert carvers. Pete was originally a painter who studied in Santa Fe, but after marrying Dinah, he too, began carving lessons, and became a master carver alongside his wife. Sadly, Pete died in 2011.
Originally purchased at Keshi in Santa Fe, these jumbo fetish necklaces are very hard to find, and we are honored to be selling it as part of a living estate in Southern California.
