Z Bear on Fours
Zuni Fetish Carving
Alvert Lamy
Tagua Nut with Turquoise Eyes

Alvert Lamy, Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, USA

Really cool little bear.  This is a "design" I have seen Alvert do before, but this is a particularly well executed piece.

Tagua nuts come from South America.  When they cure (dry) they get very hard and take on the carving characteristics of ivory, hence the nickname "plant ivory".  Happily, it is a very sustainable material.  The artist is limited by the size of the nut, but I wish more artists would do some work in this.  

 Remember to check the dimensions - the photos are extreme close-ups.

Signed: A LAMY ZUNI NM

Length: 1-9/16"

Width: 1-1/4"

Height: 1-1/4"

Weight: .7oz/20g/.044lbs

P043020