Leekya Deyuse
Leekya Deyuse (1889-1966) was the head of the famous Leekya family of Zuni fetish artists, and is perhaps one of the most famous and sought after Zuni carvers of all time. As one of the Zunis hired to work on the excavation of Hawikuh Pueblo in the 1920s, Leekya saw first-hand the work of his ancestors and incorporated it into his carvings. He was one of the first to transition from carving fetishes for religious or personal use to selling carvings for the Indian art market. His highly sought after and unmistakable works include distinctly carved animals and birds, human figures, leaves, and other shapes, often strung into necklaces or set into silverwork.