(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Some Zuni Jewelry. [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-02-14 Welcome to the Street Prophets Coffee Hour. The Zuni people have lived in the American Southwest region for thousands of years, during which time they established their reputation for creating exquisitely beautiful and functional works of art. Pottery, textiles, baskets, and carved stone and wood are all art forms they've excelled at for many centuries. It wasn't until the 1870s that silversmithing was introduced, when a Navajo silversmith (who'd likely learned it from the Spanish) taught the skill to the one Zuni he met who understood and spoke the Navajo language. From such small beginnings artistic traditions grow. Three Sunface pieces. At top, a pin by Victoria Unkestine. The pendant features delicate carving on the "feathers", below is a pin which was originally set as a bolo tie. Both are marked Zuni but unsigned. Zuni artists were already known for creating beautiful, intricate stone inlay mosaics on shells, antler, and wood; and by the early 1900s they began combining inlay techniques with silver channel work. Well over a century later the resulting creations continue to enchant collectors the world over. A Rainbow Man and Knifewing, both the work of Herbert and Esther Cellicion. I especially love the playful piano keys motif on this Rainbow Man. The "stepped" headdress on each represents rain clouds. Combining silver with turquoise, jet, Mediterranean coral and various colors of shell, Zuni mosaic and channel inlay pieces are gorgeous little masterpieces that require great skill and time consuming care to create. Items such as squash blossom style necklaces and parures can command prices in the tens of thousands. (which places them well beyond my reach, but I can still dream) Two little rings. At left, a channel inlay eagle. Right, a 1950s Rainbow Man. Both are unsigned. In the 1930s the technique of needlepoint and petit point lapidary began to appear. Ever more delicate and intricate designs caught the attention of those who already appreciated the jewelry being created and worn by Zuni people. From simple patterns to the most elaborate, there was nothing like it. At left, circa 2010 four-pointed star earrings. At top, 1950s needlepoint earrings that I inherited from my grandmother. Below, a 1930s-1940s pin with carved leaves. That pin and the earrings above it are the only needlepoint pieces in my collection. Occasionally my jewelry gets noticed by Native Americans, who might comment on a particular item. Over the years I've met a couple of the artists who made them, and more often someone who is a relative of the artist. I've been privileged to talk with some cool people about things in my collection. One thing that always seems to come up is how pleased they are to see those items being worn and enjoyed. It's much more often that tourists ask me about my collection. Sometimes with an eye towards buying them from me. I've yet to sell any and probably never will, but I'm happy to tell folks about the best and most trustworthy shops to visit to buy their own. The trustworthy part is really important; fakes are a thing and some are good enough to fool even experienced collectors. I've had a few lucky finds at pawn shops, consignment shops, and even yard sales. But if you care at all about buying the genuine article (as opposed to silvertone and plastic that was made in an assembly line in China or the Philippines) you'll understand that authentic and really nice Native American jewelry is generally not sold very cheaply. I expect to pay accordingly, even though I can only do so maybe once or twice in a year. I hope you enjoyed seeing this part of my collection as much as I have enjoyed sharing it. Thank you for reading. This is an open thread, all topics are welcome. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/14/2152791/-Some-Zuni-Jewelry Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/