Maidens

Sandra Quandelacy made these two corn maiden sisters from a beautiful piece of Picasso marble.  On one side, the corn maiden is holding a bowl with crushed turquoise that represents water.  Both of them have hair that is etched and long.  Their eyes and mouth are also etched, as well as etched stars on their bodies.   They have dots of inlaid turquoise, mother of pearl, and coral on the front.  The shawl that swishes out has carved fringe on the bottom, and there is a border around the bottom dress.  More about corn maiden sisters below.

Size: 3.5" H x 2" L x .75" W

Corn maidens represent everything good about being a woman: strong, kind, compassionate, nurturing, and powerful.  There are many Indigenous stories about how corn was brought to the people at a time when there was hunger, and how a sacred, sometimes other worldly, female being brought them corn.  Corn maidens come with a card detailing the meaning, the carver, and the material they are carved from.

Corn Maiden sisters can represent the relationships we have with our sisters, both biological and chosen.  When given as gifts, they can represent that the giver will always have her sister’s best interests at heart, as well as her loyalty, trust, and support.

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

A long time ago, there was a maiden who picked up weapons during an attack.  Since then, she has been known as the Warrior Maiden.  This Warrior Maiden by Michael Laweka is carved from deer antler.  She carries her bow and arrows in a quiver on her back, always ready to protect the community.  She wears a tall feather in her hair which is long and drapes over her shoulders.  She has inlaid jet eyes, and an inlaid coral dot for her mouth.  She wears turquoise and coral on her neck and her shawl has geometric designs with inlaid turquoise dots.  there is a large inlaid jet dragonfly on the front.  Her quiver has two jet inlaid dragonflies on each side, with two turquoise dots inlaid on each side of the top, and two inlaid red coral dots inlaid on each side of the bottom.  She stands on a base of bright blue turquoise.

Size: 4.625" H x 1.125" L x 1.25" W

Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

Zuni carver, Jonathan Natewa, carved this black marble corn maiden.  There are beautifully etched designs all over her body.  There is a cloud design in front on her chest, with butterflies below.  On the back are geometric and plan designs.  There are also inlaid turquoise for her eyes, mouth, and decorative spots on the front and back. 

Size: 4" H x 1.75" L x 1.25" W

Corn maidens represent everything good about being a woman: strong, kind, compassionate, nurturing, and powerful.  There are many Indigenous stories about how corn was brought to the people at a time when there was hunger, and how a sacred, sometimes other worldly, female being brought them corn.  Corn maidens come with a card detailing the meaning, the carver, and the material they are carved from.

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

Zuni carver, Garrick Weeka, carved this tall and stately corn maiden from a deer antler.  She has inlaid turquoise eyes, carved bangs, and two feathers above her head.  She has long horizontal lines under her face.  Her body is carved corn kernels with inlaid turquoise dots.  Her long hair appears to be tucked into her collar in the back.  There are geometric symbols on the back with inlaid turquoise. 

Size: 6" H x 1.25" L x .625" W

Corn maidens represent everything good about being a woman: strong, kind, compassionate, nurturing and powerful.  There are many Indigenous stories about how corn was brought to the people at a time when there was hunger, and how a sacred, sometimes other worldly, female being brought them corn.

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

She is carved from mother of pearl and gracefully rising out of a pot.  She has inlaid jet eyes, a red coral mouth, and inlaid turquoise around the edge of her shawl.  Her hair is beautifully detailed down her back with an inlaid re coral and a tiny feather fan at the top of her head.  She also has detailed bangs.  The pot that she is rising out of has two dragonflies and corn leaves on the front and back, along with geometric symbols on each side.  It is signed CL on the bottom.

Size: 2.25" H x 1" L x .5" W

Corn maidens represent everything good about being a woman: strong, kind, compassionate, nurturing and powerful.  There are many Indigenous stories about how corn was brought to the people at a time when there was hunger, and how a sacred, sometimes other worldly, female being brought them corn.

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

Valerie Comosona artfully carved this corn maiden from a shell with a malachite face.  There are three dragonflies carved on the bottom circle, four stars, a stalk of corn, and bits of turquoise inside and around the rim the shell.  Turquoise is an offering and is sometimes associated with water.

Size: 2" H x 2.5" L x 3.25" W

Corn maidens represent everything good about being a woman: strong, kind, compassionate, nurturing and powerful.  There are many Indigenous stories about how corn was brought to the people at a time when there was hunger, and how a sacred, sometimes other worldly, female being brought them corn.

We like to give corn maiden sisters to the sisters in our families and the sisters we create as move through life to show them that we "have their backs" as our relationship continues to weave together.

She is tall, stately and carved from cedar by Carl Etsate with inlaid turquoise eyes.  She is turquoise dots on her chest, her body has carvings of corn kernals and other designs, as well as inlaid jet dots.  Her long hair goes all the way down her back.  And, she still has a bit of the cedar aroma.

Size: 5.6875" H x .75" L x .5" W

Corn maidens represent everything good about being a woman: strong, kind, compassionate, nurturing and powerful.  There are many Indigenous stories about how corn was brought to the people at a time when there was hunger, and how a sacred, sometimes other worldly, female being brought them corn.

We like to give corn maiden sisters to the sisters in our families and the sisters we create as move through life to show them that we "have their backs" as our relationship continues to weave together.

Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.