Zuni Pueblo Multiple Stone Knifewing Pin [SOLD]

Zuni Pueblo artisans are known worldwide as phenomenal lapidary artisans and jewelry makers.  They are masters at cutting stones and fitting those stone-to-stone to form mosaic imagery in jewelry.  This Knifewing pin is an excellent example of the finest lapidary work from Zuni. 

It is quite likely that the pin is circa 1930s as stated by the owners of Kania Ferrin Gallery in Santa Fe at the time they sold it to the current owners.  It appears to be of that vintage and of the quality of jewelry of that period.

Along with the Zuni Rainbow Man, the Zuni Knifewing was a popular design used by Zuni jewelers beginning in the 1930s. The Knifewing is a supernatural being for the Zuni people. For public use, its design was probably altered in order not to offend traditional Zuni people. This pin is a good example of the craft of Zuni multi-stone inlay. Each small piece is perfectly placed to create a miniature work of art.

It is comprised of a beautiful deep black jet, orange color spondylus shell, blue turquoise with a copper matrix, and white shell or bone, all of which were set in a stone-to-stone array on a silver backing and silver edging.  The Knifewing's earrings are made from silver wire.

Condition: original condition

Provenance:  from the collection of a family from Illinois which is downsizing considerably from a large house to a small condominium and finds it necessary to sell some of their cherished collections.

Recommended Reading: North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment: From Prehistory to the Present [CONCISE] by Margaret Dubin