Mosaic Inlay Mother of Pearl and Turquoise Earrings [R]

Inspired by the intricate stonework at the Ancestral Pueblo ruins at Chaco Canyon, Kewa/Laguna artist Charlie Bird created this stunning pair of turquoise and shell mosaic earrings. Until the middle of the 19th century, Chaco Canyon in northwestern New Mexico contained the largest buildings in the United States. The long-abandoned buildings are now a UNESCO world heritage site, recognized because of their size, intricate masonry work as well as their astronomical significance.

Bird honors the genius of the ancient builders by cutting small pieces of mother of pearl and turquoise and setting them in a mosaic pattern reminiscent of Chaco Canyon masonry. Multiple sections of these gemstones fit snugly together and are set in a handmade silver bezel. The turquoise he chose has a magnificent copper matrix. The earrings are signed with the artist's hallmark—a stylized bird in flight. They are fitted for pierced ears (see image below).

A well-respected jewelry artist, Charlie Bird won multiple Best of Division awards at Santa Fe Indian Market in the 1980s and 1990s. His work is published in books and magazines including American Indian Art Magazine (Spring 1995: 97) and Southwestern Indian Jewelry by Dexter Cirillo (1992:43).

Condition: new condition

Provenance: these Mosaic Inlay Mother of Pearl and Turquoise Earrings are from a resident of Santa Fe

Recommended Reading:

- SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN JEWELRY Crafting New Traditions by Dexter Cirillo

TAGS: Kewa -Santo Domingo Pueblo, Laguna Pueblo, Southwest Indian Jewelry, Charlie Bird