Spirit in the Stone: A Handbook of Southwest Indian Animal Carvings and Beliefs

If you're looking for a handbook with larger-than-life full-color photographs of indigenous artwork, are fascinated by Native American spirituality and artifacts, or are interested in stone and stone sculpture, check out this attractively designed reference. Bahti brings it all together under one cover in a scholarly yet down-to-earth presentation of the Apache, Navajo, Zuni, Rio Grande Pueblos, Hopi, and Tohono O'odham peoples' stone fetish work. For the non-Native reader, the introduction is most helpful in understanding the respectfully appropriate attitude to take toward the religious and artistic practices of Native peoples. The chapter on materials is a valuable resource for the aspiring carver, and the detailed explanations and photos of each type of fetish are invaluable for the beginning collector. --P. Randall Cohan