Handmade Silver and Turquoise Spurs [SOLD]

Chief Sunny Skies was an Acoma Pueblo Indian, born in 1900, who was also known as Clyde Hunt.  His dad was Edward Proctor Hunt (Chief Big Snake) who was born in 1861on the mesa top at Acoma Pueblo.  In 1928, the elder Hunt told his version of the origin myth of Acoma Indians to the Smithsonian Institution scholars.  It was considered an epic writing in that it recounted his version of the creation, migration, and residence of the Acoma Indians.  This was re-published in 2015 as a book authored by Peter Nabokov.

Chief Sunny Skies owned and operated a trading post located on the main street in Carlsbad, New Mexico, for over 40 years.  It was closed in 1977, a few years after he passed away.  His wife, Estelle, passed away in 1978. 

Chief Sunny Skies was a jeweler who cleverly marked his work with his name and year the item was made.  This was unusual for Native artists to do in the early 1930s.

This pair of spurs is marked Made By Sunny Skies, Acoma Indian, Chief Sunny Skies, 1938. He apparently made other sets of spurs, as well.  This pair has beautiful design elements on the main curve.  It also has turquoise stones set into silver bezels that dangle at each end of each spur.  There are four other turquoise stones on the back of each spur and the rotating wheel.

Condition: appears to be in original condition.

Recommended Reading: Jewelry by Southwest American Indians: Evolving Designs by Nancy Schiffer

Provenance: from the personal collection of Henry Vallo, Acoma Indian, nephew of Chief Sunny Skies.