Native American Navajo Frog Fetish Carving

What is a Fetish?

A fetish is a rock carving of an animal that captures the spirit and the essence of the animal, not necessarily its exact detailed conformation. Although carved from many types of rock, fishrock is traditional. Read more about fetishes.

Frogs and turtles are some of the oldest and most commonly carved Navajo fetishes. Frogs are considered a major rain-bringing fetish so very important to the Navajo who live in an arid portion of the southwest US. Frogs also represent abundance and fertility. It is said that women become pregnant when a frog fetish is kept next to the bed - which can be a good thing or a surprise ! So be forewarned !

Pipestone - Pipestone, catlinite, is a form of clay with a high iron content that makes it red. The Plains Indians consider it to be a "sacred" material since it often is used for ceremonial items such as pipes.
Read about stones.