A Guide to Zuni Fetishes & Carvings, Volume I: The Animals & The Carvers

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to the world of Zuni fetish carvings
Review: An excellent guidebook of the wide variety of Zuni fetishes carvings available today. McManis goes into some painstaking detail of Zuni cosmology in the introduction, then gives details on each of the animals that are frequently carved now in Zuni, and finishes the silm volume with a discussion of four Zuni carving families accompanied by genealogical tables and a list of active carvers as of 1998. Photographs are extremely well done, however, there are no close up details of fetishes, given that there are families like the Cheamas and the Kaamasees now producing extraordinarily detailed and lifelike "non-traditional" fetishes. A must have reference for anyone beginning or enhancing a collection of these fascinating carvings. Volume #2 covers the extensive range of materials used and details additional family groupings.

Rating:
Summary: A well-rounded introduction to a unique form of artistry
Review: I'm a very, very new collector, so I don't know how applicable my comments would be for experienced collectors. But from the perspective of someone fairly new to, but interested in, Zuni fetishes, this is a marvelous little book. It's full of crystal clear, gorgeous, detailed photos on wonderful paper and just the right amount and variety (for me) of well-written information to whet one's appetite for this fascinating topic.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Resource
Review: This book, together with its successor volume, is the ultimate reference guide for the beginning or experienced collector. The author, who is probably the pre-eminent authority on the subject, provides clear, valuable information encompassing various segments of this remarkable art and contemporary artists. If you own or are considering purchasing these intriguing carvings, this little book (and the accompanying Volume II) should be your bible.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Have
Review: This is a must have book for beginner or established Fetish collectors. It is a great, quick resource. I did not get as much out of the second volume, but this one is a must have.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Resource
Review: This little book (together with Volume II) is the most valuable reference guide on the market today for either the beginning or experienced collector. The author, probably the leading authority on the subject, provides clear, useful information, encompassing various segments of the art and artists, necessary for the understanding and purchase of these remarkable objects. The two books are a joy to read and own.