Southwest United States, the Zuni Pueblo Many cultures produce talisman-type carvings, but one of the most renowned carvers in the world is surely the Zuni people of the Southwest cultural region of The United States. Native American or Indigenous carvings of this type are conventionally known as “fetishes,” in the art and museum world. These small carved creatures, when properly blessed and used, are not only representative of a variety of virtues or strengths but likewise are believed to possess great spiritual power. These fetishes can be carved from precious stones, minerals, crystals, fossils, shell, wood or other materials. Often, they have turquoise or coral decorative elements. The Zuni people use these objects for many purposes. Fetishes can be used in curing ceremonies, for protection of and imbuing of attributes on an individual and community, and to bring abundance and fertility. Many Puebloan cultures emphasize a necessary respect for the spirit residing within a fetish. In some cultures, it is traditional to “feed,” fetishes using cornmeal or otherwise maintain them with rituals honoring the spirit dwelling within the fetish. The bear is a majorly important talisman animal throughout the Southwest. Bear fetishes represent and are used for many purposes such as protection, strength, journeying, mothering, hunting, and gathering. Some Zuni bears likewise specifically feature arched backs which mimic cave entrances and represent an ability to draw inward for rest and restoration. The bear is associated with the West, with other animals depicted in fetishes likewise being associated with one of the cardinal directions, the sky, or the earth. The Heartline Many of the fetishes in this collection, and many fetishes in general, feature a “heartline;” this may be an etched, inlaid or painted line extending from the mouth or not of the animal towards its chest or abdomen. This line usually ends in a point much like an arrowhead. This line represents the path of the breath, connecting to the core of the animals’ being. Some scholars discuss a Zuni belief in the power of a predator’s breath to captivate its prey, this power comes from the core spirit of the animal where the heartline points. The heartline likewise has some resemblance to symbols from Zuni religion and creation stories, such as snakes or lightning.