Zuni Pueblo Rare and Unusual Breastplate-style Necklace [SOLD]

When this necklace was dropped off to the gallery recently, my first thought was that it certainly is not anything with which I was familiar.   We consulted with Ernie Bulow of Gallup, New Mexico, who has spent considerable time documenting jewelry and jewelers from Zuni.  Ernie said it was published in Arizona Highways, August 1952.  I do not have that issue but did find one published in Arizona Highways Turquoise Blue Book, which is a compilation of items from the various Arizona Highways issues.  It is from Zuni, dates to the late 1930s, and was probably made by Teddy Weahkee, according to Bulow.

The necklace shown in Arizona Highways, which is almost identical to this one, was collected in 1948 by the McCormick family.  We have pieced together that the McCormicks were the owners of a heavy machinery company in Chicago, and whose massive collection of native art was auctioned at some point in the 1960s. Also, the McCormicks owned a John Gaw Meem designed house near Nambe, N.M. This necklace we have is not the same one from the McCormick collection but was obviously made by the same jeweler.

Bulow said that Weahkee was fascinated with designs from the prehistoric Hawikuh digs at Zuni and was the artist who would venture out and be creative and willing to try something different. 

This is a most unusual circa 1930s necklace, probably by Teddy Weahkee, and is stunning in design and would be a major item worn on a black dress. It would also be a major item to just own and admire even if never worn.  It is truly stunning and most unusual.

Condition: excellent condition with one silver leaf dangle missing

Provenance: from a family collection in Santa Fe which has had it for decades.

Recommended Reading:  Arizona Highways, August 1952