This pretty travertine bear is carved by Donovan Laiwakete. The Laiwakete brothers (Rodney, Bernard, Tony and Fernando) are best known for their extravagant offering bundles and their precision inlay. Each has his own style but the quality of their work is always excellent.

Travertine is formed when carbon dioxide from deep inside the earth flows thru fissures and underground rivers and streams and acidifies in water to the point of dissolving limestone. As it flows it deposits layers of calcium carbonate to form the rock we know today as travertine. It can be all shades of brown and yellow with some red thrown in for excitement. Zuni rock (carved by the Leekya family today) is also a from of travertine though it is usually a very uniform pale brown.

Donovan has gifted this medicine bear with a pink shell arrowhead offering that's tied on with heishe, turquoise and red coral beads. The eyes of the bear are inlaid with turquoise. The bear is unsigned.

BEAR: The bear represents the western direction in a protective and healing fetish set. He is associated with the color blue and known for his curative powers. Though all bears are healers, white bears are particularly powerful. Characteristics associated with bears include strength, courage, adaptability, healing and spiritual communion.

Click here to hear "bear" in Shiwi, - the Zuni Language.