Learn About the Art > Learn About the Materials > About Pipestone

About Pipestone (Catlinite)

Corn Maiden Fetish from Zuni Pueblo in Pipestone

Zuni Wolf Fetish Carved in Pipestone

Zuni Horned Toad Fetish Carving in Pipestone

Pipestone is used by Native American jewelers and Zuni fetish carvers in a variety of ways.

In Navajo jewelry, pipestone can be used as a setting in Sterling Silver, or in channel or mosaic inlay in Sterling Silver.

In Zuni fetish carvings, one sees pipestone often as a stand-alone material representing the animal or figure's body, and less frequently as a part of ornamentation or in stone inlay.

Pipestone is used in these Santo Domingo Pueblo earrings (bottom stones) by Mary Tafoya

Pipestone also traditionally has been used among Native Americans for pipes / pipe bowls (calumets) and effigy carvings (see photo, right).