Vintage Native Zuni Sterling Silver Turquoise deals Coral Chip Inlay Cuff Bracelet 5g

We have similar Zuni and Inlay items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search "Zuni" or "Inlay" under our items.

Listing Description by: Angela A.

The Piece

Markings: Unmarked, tested, and guaranteed

Main Stone: Turquoise chip inlay

Main Stone Measurements/Color:
-Length: 5.28 mm to 8.8 mm
-Width: 2.82 mm to 3.75 mm
-Color: opaque blue hue with mottled lighter blue hues

Accent Stone: Red coral chip inlay

Accent Stone Measurements/Color:
-Length: 4.9 mm & 5.5 mm
-Width: 2.85 mm & 3.4 mm
-Color: opaque red hue with mottled lighter red hues

Stone Treatment: The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.

Stone Cuts: Hand-cut inlaid turquoise and red coral chips

Item Measurements:
-Inner Circumference, not including the cuff gap: 5.25"
-Cuff Gap adds an additional: 1.13"
-Total wearable length and inner circumference: 6.38"
-Bracelet Width: 0.10" to 0.65"

Bracelet Type: Cuff Bracelet

Closure/Clasp Type: This bracelet is meant to be worn over the wrist through the gap

Link Type: Rounded and polished silver

Notable Features:
-Handmade by a talented Zuni artisan in the 1970s, this gorgeous bracelet is composed of .925 sterling silver
-Features hand-cut and inlaid turquoise chips adorning two wings and the center of a butterfly motif
-Two additional wings contain inlaid red coral chips for lovely contrast
-The sterling silver band is polished and rounded for secure and comfortable wear

Damage: Age appropriate wear. Minor tarnish on some areas of the silver can be removed with a buffing.

*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*


The History

This beautiful piece was made by a very talented Native American silversmith. It features handcrafted silversmith work throughout. Antique Native American jewelry is very rare to find. This is due to these pieces being made for reservation and personal use before the tourist trade became popular. Very few pieces were made and even less survived to today.

The concept of Pawn, Old Pawn, and Dead Pawn Native American Jewelry came to be in the 1800s. During this time, trading posts had become commonplace for Native Americans to go and exchange food, tools, and other materials with Colonists. Essentially, banks would loan the shop owners money which was then invested into loans for Native Americans in exchange for their jewelry. When a loan wasn't repaid, the item became known as either “Old Pawn” or “Dead Pawn.”

Zuni jewelry is very distinct from other Native American tribes; it most notably features gorgeous inlay designs, as well as petit point and needle point stone work. These highly detailed techniques, combined with exceptional metal work, makes the Zuni tribe one of the best-known jewelry making tribes in the world.

The Zuni Nation is well known for their stone inlay work, mosaic-like images depicting religious and cultural motifs created from materials that were readily available. Their modern work is well known for its bold stone colors; often turquoise and coral are used. It is rare for their pieces to be signed, as the Zuni People believe artwork belongs to the entire community.

Chip inlay is a method of filling indentations or cavities in jewelry with crushed stone, usually turquoise or red coral, mixed with some sort of resin or epoxy. After the resin hardens, the piece is polished down for a smooth surface that exhibits a beautiful, mosaic-like effect. This technique is first credited to jewelry artist, Tommy Singer, in 1970. It remains one of the most sought after styles of Native American jewelry.

Turquoise is found all over the world and has been a popular semi-precious stone used in jewelry and art for thousands of years by many different cultures; from prehistoric times to the present. Turquoise comes in many beautiful color variations; from the popular bright solid sky-blue hues to deals dark blue hues with dark spiderwebbing throughout, as well as aqua, teal, and many green varieties, and even some rare white with dark spiderwebbing.

Red Coral is a highly prized stone by Native American cultures and has long been used by artisans in the Southwest. Spanish traders introduced coral to the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and other tribes, and it quickly became a sign and symbol of wealth and status in many different Native American cultures. It varies in color from deep red to orange, with red being the preferred choice of Native American jewelry makers.



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