Sterling Silver UITA-17 Stamped Curio Tray [SOLD]

United Indian Traders Association (UITA) was formed in 1931 to insure quality craftsmanship in Native American art. The association had strict rules regarding the methods used to make jewelry. A UITA stamp was a guarantee the item was hand made by a member of an enrolled tribe. Traders paid dues and each post had its own number. UITA 17 was the number for Hubbell at the Ganado and Oraibi trading posts. Thus, we can identify that this Southwest Indian ashtray was made by a Native American craftsman to sell at Hubbell’s Ganado or Oraibi trading post.

John Lorenzo Hubbell was a major supplier to the Fred Harvey Company. Harvey had a chain of hotels along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway from Chicago to Los Angeles. As a supplier to Harvey, Hubbell had the responsibility of obtaining suitable Native made collectible objects to sell at Fred Harvey gift shops. This tray was the type of hand-made object that was very desirable to sell to tourists.

The small  ashtray is made of a medium weight sheet silver and then stamped. The stamp in the center is a Knifewing. The Knifewing is a Zuni Spirit who is half-man, half-eagle.  The image of the spirit has become iconic with the Fred Harvey company, appearing on Harvey dinnerware, stationery, jewelry as well as having been the logo of the Fred Harvey Alvarado Hotel in Albuquerque.  

It is stamped on the bottom with the UITA stamp, with an arrow in between the UI and TA.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: from an extensive collection of such items by a Colorado resident

Recommended Reading: The C. G. Wallace Collection of American Indian Art