Entering Kathleen HamptonÕs home, you are greeted by an entourage of bears.
The focus of her collection is bear fetishes, in particular, which she stumbled upon when touring galleries in Santa Fe, N.M. A fetish is a small sculpture used to embody the spirit of the animal it represents.
Some believe the fetish gives its owner special assistance through supernatural powers. The rock or stone whose natural formation resembles a particular animal is the most coveted fetish.
Fetishes come in all shapes and sizes and all types of subjects. Kathleeen chose to collect bears because of a Ònatural affinity for them.Ó
ÒIÕd have more fetishes but I just ran out of space.Ó
Hampton has collected fetishes primarily through her travels. She is a builder for Evergreen Classic Homes and has lived in Lake Highlands for 30-plus years.
The fetish Hampton uses for her personal good charm is ebony-faced with a turquoise arrow pointing at the heart line and turquoise eyes. Has it brought her good luck?
ÒI donÕt know if it brought me good luck or if it just happened that things went my way.Ó
Writer Donna Smithson is a neighborhood Realtor. If you have an unusual collection (or know someone in our neighborhood who does), tell her about it by calling 972-733-5653.
