Le-men-tino

The marble’s surface is polished smooth, its deep tones swirling like storm clouds across the frog’s compact, poised body. The contrast between dark gray and inky black gives the carving a sense of quiet strength and natural camouflage, as if the frog could vanish into stone or water at will. Its eyes are inlaid with turquoise, bright and luminous—two vivid gems that bring life and presence to the piece. The turquoise stands out brilliantly against the dark marble, adding a spark of sacred energy and reinforcing the frog’s symbolic connection to water, healing, and transformation. Running  down its back is an inlaid spiny oyster heartline—a bold, radiant line of deep orange to reddish-pink shell, representing the life force and breath of spirit. The heartline, a traditional symbol in Zuni and other Native American carvings, starts at the mouth (where life enters) and leads to the heart, signifying inner strength, purpose, and the path of vitality. Together, the elements make this frog a powerful fetish of renewal, protection, and spiritual direction. The combination of dark Picasso marble, vibrant turquoise eyes, and the radiant spiny oyster heartline gives the piece a compelling visual and symbolic contrast—earth and water, stillness and energy, stone and spirit, all held in one sacred form.

Frog (Da:k'yawiyo): Toad (Dakka) Frog (Dakkya) is a sign of water. Water is life. In Zuni Pueblo, frogs often appear on prayer bowls since many of the Zuni prayers and dances ask for water in the form of rain or snow. Cleansing is also a part of Frog’s meaning as well as emotional and physical healing.  

Dimensions: Length: 1 78" X Width: 1 3/8" X Height: 5/8" Purchased