Leekya Deyuse Zuni Fetish Carver

The purpose of this Leekya Deyuse page is to help Zuni fetish
collectors gain a better understanding of Leekya Deyuse's
 importance, to properly identify Leekya work and to
 estimate prices. All of these Leekya Deyuse
pieces are sold.

Gregory Schaaf, a leading authority of Indian arts and
crafts, accurately states that; "Leekya Deyuse is one of the most
famous Zuni jewelers and fetish carvers in history. His name
 is like Rembrandt among serious Indian art collectors. His
 work commands the highest prices."
 
Mr. Schaaf documents some of the prices Leekya's work sold for
at the 1975 Sotheby CG Wallace sale. For example:

Lot 212 - 4 Strand carved Coral Bird Necklace $21,000
Lot 970 - 5 carved Blue Gem Turquoise leaf necklace
strung on Coral - $9,500
Lot 1060 - carved Jet Frog Bolo Tie - $2,500
Lot 1115 - 3 Strand Bird Necklace  - $10,000

Bear in mind these are 1975 auction prices.

The value of Leekya's work has continued to rise and
 today commands prices 10 to 15 times higher.

Gregory Schaaf establishes Leekya Deyuse
and Teddy Weahkee as "the most important workers
 in the village".

I feel their importance (and the importance of a few others
 like them goes beyond that. These men were prominent,
influential, and admired Zuni leaders. It was they who set
 the boundaries (sometimes blurred) on how Zuni religious
icons / fetishes could be represented to the public.
What could be carved and what could not.

The pictures below are from a recently discovered Leekya
 fetish necklace. Many of the animals carved on it have not been
seen before. Notice the fine detail, the fetishes seem alive.
These are Zuni fetish qualities that carvers still
 seek to attain and few master.