Featured Inuit or zuni or...?

Hi everyone,
I am new here, my name is Fionna and I live in the Netherlands (so pardon my English ). I collect Inuit carvings (and an occasional Zuni animal) because I absolutely adore them. I buy them mainly in the US through my cousin who lives there, since they are very hard to find here. Now I have seen something on a local marketplace that I need your help with. It looks like an Inuit carving, except for the fact that I have never seen a mountain lion being the subject of the Inuit. If it is a mountain lion at all. The name Alonzo shows up in Zuni figurines, but they look different with their turquoise eyes and such. Any ideas? It isn't expensive because the owner has no clue either, but I only want to buy it when it is either Inuit or Zuni.

 

Welkom bij het forum Fionna. Jouw Engels is prima, geen probleem.

Correct, it wouldn't be. Not all fetishes have turquoise eyes, by the way. I have never seen one on a plinth, but never say never.
And I agree, Alonzo is more common in the Southwest, but of Spanish origin. Spanis names are used
There is a SW fetish carver called Stewart Alonzo, but I don't know if this is by him. It could be by a relative.
I'll see if I can find something, otherwise @Taupou or @2manybooks may know.

 

Here is something on Stewart Alonzo, and he is known for mountain lions as well.
http://www.penfieldgallery.com/artistsfetishes/stew-alonzo-carver-43.html

But the fetish shown is not on a plinth. None of mine are either. Mine are mostly Zuni, but I also have one Navajo carving.
The photo of the fetish doesn't show a signature, so I have no idea if he is our man.

 

I agree that the subject and the Spanish name might indicate a SW origin, but there are many Spanish speaking areas of the world with access to soapstone and some form of lion. So, without more information it may be difficult to narrow down.

 

This is not Inuit.

 

Nor is it Zuni.

 

but it is a puma..

 

Thank you for all your help! I will skip this one.

 

if you collect inuit carvings you should consider buying them from canada...

 

Dutch import duties and clearing costs are a pain. Canadian shipping cost to Europe for such pieces.....
Nice pieces can be found occasionally on the UK ebay, but today is Brexit day, so the import costs will be an issue there too, in the future.
You can try the German ebay, ebay.de. I occasionally find good Native American jewellery there, so you never know.
It is best if sellers have no idea what it is, my favourite sellers. But that means you will have to be inventive when it comes to search terms.