Multi-stone Inlay Zuni Pueblo Rainbow Man Jewelry Pin

This Zuni Pueblo jewelry pin features meticulously cut and shaped sections of turquoise, jet, spondylus shell, and mother-of-pearl that were then set together to depict a Zuni Rainbow Man. Flawlessly fashioned sections of gemstone and shell were assembled to represent the kilt, body, and headdress of the Zuni guardian spirit. The stones were mounted on a silver platform and framed with fancy silverwork.

The Rainbow Man, or "Rainbow Dancer", was one of the first figures designed by Zuni artisans making mosaic jewelry. Beginning in the 1920s, traders at Zuni Pueblo encouraged artists to use mosaic inlay to create items that would appeal to tourists. Oftentimes, Zuni lapidary artists would cut and shape the stones. Then, the work was given to Diné silversmiths to be set in silver.

The Zuni Rainbow Man became one of the most popular Zuni inlay jewelry items for collectors. The setting of multi-hued stones on the figure symbolizes the rainbow, representing the blessings of rain—the essential element for life in the dry Southwest. It is also viewed as a symbol of protection.

Condition: this Multi-stone Inlay Zuni Pueblo Rainbow Man Jewelry Pin is in very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a client from Colorado

Recommended Reading: Masterworks and Eccentricities: The Druckman Collection; Navajo and Pueblo Jewelry and Metalwork 1880-1950 by Robert Bauver

TAGS: Southwest Indian Jewelry, Zuni Pueblo