Zuni jewelry

Zuni jewelers are true lapidary artists. They possess an admirable understanding of how to cut and shape a vast array of materials to fit precise and creative designwork. They are renowned throughout the world for their amazing inlaid, needlepoint (stones cut into tiny pieces pointed on both ends) and petitpoint (teardrop or round shaped materials) jewelry.

After years of producing the same type of jewelry design taught to the Navajos by Mexican artists in the 1850's, Zuni craftspeople evolved their own style of focusing on the overall composition, and less on the individual stones. At one time the palette was somewhat limited, including primarily turquoise, jet, serpentine, pipestone and various shells. Now as stone vendors bring exotic gems from all over the world, including lapis, sugilite, opal, Amazonite and amber, creative options have increased dramatically with so many new hues and textures available. Skillfully combining the increase in resources and a constant refinement in inlay techniques, artists such as Ruddell and Nancy Laconsello and Gomeo Bobelu excel in exquisite creations.

At Grey Dog Trading Company, we select Zuni jewelry with high quality materials and workmanship. Occasionally an artist will do both fetish carving and jewelry, as in the case of Sandra and Andres Quandelacy's lovely fetish necklaces.

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