Fetish Spirit Rock, “Amfalulu” – The Artsology Weblog

I acquired an intriguing message from Tom Johnson, who’s on the lookout for details about a singular rock. He’s reaching out to collect insights in regards to the origin and nature of this outstanding merchandise, which he refers to as “Amfalulu.” We might respect anybody who can present priceless insights about this rock artwork.

Tom mentioned the distinctive merchandise has been in his household for at the least 3 generations. Maybe it’s an historic fetish spirit rock?

“Amfalulu” was what my grandmother known as this distinctive stone. I don’t know when, the place, or how she got here by it, or that moniker. She lived in Ohio, North Carolina, Colorado, and California from 1867 to 1952. She was an artist with pursuits in pure historical past and Native People. She had traveled to Europe and Russia as a baby together with her acquisitive father. She studied portray in Paris within the early Nineties and liked to color nature and animal topics within the American Southwest.

The easily sculpted, grayish-brown rock weighs 15 kilos and is about 14” x 7” x 5” in measurement. It feels about like granite, having an identical density of two.5 and being a homogenous, clean, non-sparkly stone. Its contours are asymmetrical and creative. So whereas the fabric is of pure origin, it absolutely was handworked by design, ruling out it’s being a coprolite or unintentional pure artifact. Its important hardness additional implies that it was labored in earnest by a talented craftsman with particular intention. And its hefty weight means that it could have occupied a stationary spot in its group setting, reasonably than being actively cellular every day.

The extra pointy finish seems to have a face merely and subtly carved into it. That face consists of two eyes and a mouth etched fastidiously into the rock. Whether or not that adornment was added by the unique craftsman or subsequently by another person, it additionally was executed with substantial stone working ability.

The “face” is what suggests to me that it might be a spirit rock for some indigenous folks. I’ve no different data to point that it’s a spirit rock or anything for that matter. I solely have guesses and questions.

Wild thought – Within the curiosity of probably utilizing superior forensic analytical strategies, I’ve not washed the artifact. Although the floor is pretty clean, small mud particles from occasions passed by may reside in its pores and cracks. With gear like superior optic microscopy, presumably these particles may assist us to trace dates, areas, and extra. Who is aware of, sometime we might be able to study extra by sensing and deciphering electromagnetic patterns lodged in such objects.

Are you able to assist me clear up this thriller by suggesting concepts, contacts, and assets? Thanks!

Tom Johnson
[email protected]
SF Bay Space, California