Reviews
4.8" Carved Serpentine Zuni Bear - Arizona
his is a 4.8" long Zuni bear carved from Arizona serpentine, a beautifully patterned stone known for its warm green tones, subtle veining, and smooth, waxy luster. Shaped in the classic Zuni bear style with its arched back, sturdy legs, and grounded posture, the carving highlights the natural color variations and texture that make serpentine from this region so appealing. Expertly polished and well-balanced, it stands securely on a flat surface.
What Is A Zuni Bear?
A Zuni Bear is a small, traditional Zuni Pueblo carving that represents strength, healing, and protection, typically shaped in a compact, stylized form with a broad, arched back, sturdy legs, and a gently tapered snout that gives it a powerful, grounded profile. These carvings are often made from stones like turquoise, jet, serpentine, or alabaster, and may feature inlaid eyes, a symbolic heartline, or a small offering bundle tied across the back. The bear is regarded as a guardian of the West in Zuni tradition, valued not only as a spiritual totem associated with courage and inner wisdom but also as a collectible work of Native American artistry.
A Zuni Bear is a small, traditional Zuni Pueblo carving that represents strength, healing, and protection, typically shaped in a compact, stylized form with a broad, arched back, sturdy legs, and a gently tapered snout that gives it a powerful, grounded profile. These carvings are often made from stones like turquoise, jet, serpentine, or alabaster, and may feature inlaid eyes, a symbolic heartline, or a small offering bundle tied across the back. The bear is regarded as a guardian of the West in Zuni tradition, valued not only as a spiritual totem associated with courage and inner wisdom but also as a collectible work of Native American artistry.
About Serpentine
Serpentine is a group of hydrated magnesium silicate minerals known for their silky luster, waxy feel, and rich green hues that range from pale apple-green to deep forest tones. Formed through the metamorphic alteration of ultramafic rocks such as peridotite, serpentine often exhibits mottled, veined, or fibrous textures that make it highly distinctive and visually appealing. Its chemistry and structure vary across the group, producing varieties like antigorite, lizardite, and chrysotile—each with slightly different appearances and properties. Widely used as a decorative stone throughout human history, serpentine has been carved into tools, ornaments, and jewelry for thousands of years, prized for both its beauty and ease of working.
Serpentine is a group of hydrated magnesium silicate minerals known for their silky luster, waxy feel, and rich green hues that range from pale apple-green to deep forest tones. Formed through the metamorphic alteration of ultramafic rocks such as peridotite, serpentine often exhibits mottled, veined, or fibrous textures that make it highly distinctive and visually appealing. Its chemistry and structure vary across the group, producing varieties like antigorite, lizardite, and chrysotile—each with slightly different appearances and properties. Widely used as a decorative stone throughout human history, serpentine has been carved into tools, ornaments, and jewelry for thousands of years, prized for both its beauty and ease of working.
$125
