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Zuni Fetish Carvings

HERBERT HIM

This fabulous large fetish carving was carved from turquoise by master Zuni carver Herbert Him Sr. He has carved a mother bear and her two cubs, the mother catching a fish while the two babies play. The mother bear measures 4 inches in length by 2 inches in height and the cubs measure 1 1/4 inches by 1 inch and 2 inches by 1 3/8 inches. the mother holds a fish carved from abalone shell and all of the bears have eyes made of red coral. The entire carving measures 5 inches by 2 inches in height by 2 inches in width. Bear is the guardian of the West and he represents strength and self-knowledge. Bear is a spiritual guide and he also carries within him supernatural powers. Bear is believed to have great healing powers. Bear is considered the most powerful of all of the animals.

-Badger on Dwellings-
Material:
Picasso Marble
inlayed with Turquoise eyes

Bear Fishing W/Salmon

Herbert Him LARGE BEAUTIFUL Turquoise Bear. 5" x 2 1/2" x 3". Inlayed Coral Eyes.

These dancing bears are carved from chocolate serpentine and have blue turquoise eyes. Herbert has rendered these bears in extreme realistic detail. The head and paws, and claws are very realistically carved. The bear is 4 1/4" tall, 2 1/4" wide, and 1 3/4" deep.

"Billy, Dancin' with Deb"

Herbert is approximately 65+ years old now and what most collectors would consider a master, he has carved almost every type of animal, and alot of different subject matters. He started carving alabaster, and moved on to many different materials such as turquoise, jet, Lapis, Pipestone, marble, Shell and a stone called Picasso marble, Picasso is a limestone conglomerate, comes in black, gray brown some yellow. This stone (Picasso Marble) is one of Herbert's favorite materials to carve because of the hardness and color. Herbert has been carving for more than 30 years.

His father was a civil engineer and passed away when Herbert was 11 years old, his mother has made jewelry most of her life, and gave birth to seven children. When he was young he traveled around the United States exploring and discovering different aspects of to be or not to be, the question that we all confront sooner or later. Coming back to New Mexico his heart and an instinct told him the art world was the path that he was to pursue. This path took him to the Institute of American Indian arts. He attended school from 1969 to 1974. He studied painting, the art of making jewelry and sculpturing, along the journey he met a gentleman by the name of Allen Hauser the world-renowned human being, carver and gentleman. Mr. Hauser was nephew to Geronimo who was a Chiricahua Apache. Mr. Hauser seemed to have a way with everything he ever crafted. When these two came together it definitely was a union that was meant to be. Allen expressed to everyone the importance of the heart and soul in any project that he encountered or took on. Herbert's work has taken the contemporary and mixed it with the traditional which gives us an extraordinary mix. He mentioned Mr. Hauser said to always have pride in your work, this ethic seem to stick with Herbert all through his carving career. Every carving I have ever seen, he has been very proud of and put as much heart and soul as possible into it. Another lesson learned from Mr. Hauser was the extraordinary ability to capture muscle tone and definition of any animal that he decided to carve; he attributes this relationship with his work to Mr. Hauser and his expression of how the artist must develop this form of expression in his work.

Herbert Him really enjoys his work and it shows in each and every piece.

HERBERT HIM

.- Master Carver - ZUNI -