Ready Horned Toad

Carl Etsate carved this alert horned toad from Picasso marble and inlaid turquoise eyes.  We love the detailed face, "horns", scales and feet.  It looks like it ready to dart away at any moment.  "CE" is engraved on the bottom.  More about horned toads and lizards below.

Size: .5" H x 2.75" L x 1.125" W

Horned toads are thorny lizards with a fat body and very short tail.  If they feel attacked they can puff up to look bigger and their spiky scales can make them look like too much work to eat.  They can  also shoot blood out of their eyes up to 5 feet when threatened.  If you are looking for something to symbolize nonviolent protection, the horned toad may do the trick!

Lizards are associated with fire and dreaming in some Indigenous traditions.  We’ve heard stories of lizards crawling out of ceremonial fires that have been lit for hours.  And, it’s no surprise that they are also associated with dreaming since they are often seen basking in the sun with their eyes closed.  They are one of the reptiles that shed their skins, and some also associate them with the good medicine of making necessary change.

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.