Zuni Pueblo Elaborate Sun Face Pin [R]

Dan Simplicio was active from around the 1920s to the 1950s.  He had learned jewelry making from his uncle, Juan Dideros, a master smith.  Dan passed on the knowledge by teaching his brothers, Kirk and Chauncey.  As early as 1931, he was working in gold, sometimes mixing gold and silver in a single piece.  He sometimes collaborated with Lekya Deyuse, Lee Edaakie, Teddy Weahkee, and Leo Poblano. 

The collections that contain some of his jewelry are too numerous to list as are the publications featuring him and his work.  There were a number of his pieces in the C. G. Wallace collection that was sold by Sotheby's in 1975.  Suffice it to say that he was a major Zuni jeweler.

It is my understanding that he did not sign a number of his pieces, particularly the early ones.  This pin is not signed but has been noted on a paper sticker that it is his work.  We are not in a position to say it is or is not; only that it has been attributed to him by a previous collector.

Note: consultation with Mark Bahti revealed that he thinks this pin was most likely made by Oliver Cillicon.

Condition:  The pin is in very good condition

Provenance:  from a Santa Fe gentleman

Recommended Reading:  American Indian Jewelry 1,200 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf