Zuni Connection-Keshi

Wow, I can’t think of anything else to say. When we visited the store the staff couldn’t have been nicer. They answered all of our questions regarding all the artist and fetishes.
We were treated like friends and old friends at that. They were polite and courteous with my 4 year old daughter. I highly suggest stopping in and saying hi

Awesome artisan work, incredibly warm and friendly staff. Best place in Santa Fe to pick up Native American-​made jewelry, fetishes, etc. Great to know they are ethical and pay fair prices to craftsmen as well.

This is my favorite shop in Santa Fe to buy Zuni fetishes. The people who work there are so knowledgeable and have close relationships with the artists themselves. They have a great selection, all of very high quality, for all price ranges. I have been stopping here every time I pass through and will continue to do so.

My favorite place to shop and to learn in Santa Fe! The staff is well versed in animal meanings which is helpful when perusing the many shelves of fetishes. Such a great feeling there, and it’s shopping done right (fair trade style)!

This is probably the premier store to purchase Zuni fetishes in the entire United States.
There is no other store that has the selection they do and their prices are reasonable as well.
This is the type of store where you can spend hours looking and where you can easily spend hundreds of dollars if you love Zuni fetishes.

Very cool shop. It was started by a Zuni lady who wanted a place where her relatives and other Zuni people could sell their jewelry and other native crafts and get fair prices. They have gorgeous jewelry here and very knowledgeable salespeople. We were looking for something specific and couldn’t find it. They gave us the names of a few other stores where we might be able to find Zuni jewelry that also pay the artists fair price. We went to one of them and found exactly what we were looking for! Highly appreciated. Definitely visit this place for gorgeous jewelry. They have a huge supply even if it’s not in the case.

Keshi is a treasure. Stocked to the ceiling with handmade Zuni fetish, pottery, and jewelry, all sold at fair prices with the involvement of the artist. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful — never pushy. They want you to find the piece that calls to you, whether it’s ten dollars or two hundred. They beautifully gift wrap every item with care and make sure you leave knowing about your fetish or the artist that crafted your jewelry. It’s a delight to shop here, and one of the best shops in town. Don’t miss it.

This place is amazing!
So most of the Santa Fe Plaza is either really kitschy souvenirs (not knocking it, I’ve been known to buy them too) or really expensive stores that take half your paycheck… like those rhinestone-​jeweled cowgirl boots I saw for $ 200…I wouldn’t even know when I would wear those boots.
Anyway. I stumbled on this place while I was about to leave the Plaza (it’s off the main plaza) one weekend and while it was on my list of things to do, it was entirely beyond my expectations. Whether you are looking for a souvenir or something deeper, Keshi definitely has what you’re looking for. This store is composed of Zuni fetishes, pottery, and jewelry, but the fetishes in just about any animal is what really stands out. Everything in the store is personally made by a Zuni artist.
Fetishes are small carvings made from various materials by the Zuni people. These carvings have traditionally served as a ceremonial purpose for their creators and depict animals and icons integral to their culture. Each animal is believed to have inherent powers or qualities that may aid the owner. Some people come in looking for something specific… and others, like me, come in and pick up what they feel is right. It’s almost mystical in a way.
The store is organized in several ways. There are some areas which are organized by artist and artist families. There are other areas that are organized by animals. There is even a section of books that you can consult if you are looking for something special. Fetishes cost anywhere from $ 10 to the hundreds of dollars; there is a carving for everyone. I’ve looked around at the other fetishes offered at other stores… and the selection here is a ton better than anywhere else, and the prices are comparable or cheaper than the prices you would get at other vendors, including the open air markets. Customer service is awesome; they will explain the merchandise and the background and help as much as you want to be helped, but they will also leave you alone if you want to browse. While I was picking out some carvings, a man came in wanting to get a gift for his sister, who was in the day before looking at several carvings, and the girls working did a dedicated search trying to figure out which ones she had been looking at, even calling up the owner who had helped the sister the day before. Now that’s customer service! And when I was leaving (only because it was after store closing, sorry!), they even specifically wrote down the other carvings I was looking at for me in case I decided to come back to get them.
I came in to buy some carvings for family and friends… and what I walked out with… was a journey in itself. I wanted meaningful carvings… and so did what the employees were suggesting… to pick what feels right. Curiously, asking about the meanings of the animals after the process, it was almost as if something was guiding my process because I could not have chosen better if I had known the meanings beforehand. The gift packaging in itself is amazing and includes a traditional Native custom. They also write down the artist and describe the piece you’ve picked out for the recipient.
This is definitely a stop not to be missed if you’re exploring the riches of New Mexico.

My family visited Santa Fe this summer, and I was blessed to have a good friend in the area who was willing to be a guide for us. One of the «off the beaten path» wonders she introduced us to was Keshi. My daughter had «discovered» fetishes on the trip, and her jaw just about hit the ground when she walked in here. Mine did too. The walls are covered in cases full of carved fetishes, sorted by animal — and I’m not sure there was an animal that wasn’t represented, most of them of exceptional quality. I could have done some serious damage to my budget in that store — and my daughter and I both left with treasures.
Prices were everything from a few dollars (fetishes made by new artists, small pouches, etc.) to thousands (amazing carvings and jewelry). Yet nothing seemed overpriced for what it was — in fact I was delighted with the fetishes and earrings I bought.
I loved Santa Fe — and I will be back. And when I do — a visit to Keshi will definitely be on the itinerary! My Raven fetishes need some magpie friends. :)