Single Row Petit-point Silver and Turquoise Bracelet [SOLD]

Zuni Pueblo is in west-central New Mexico south of Gallup. The people of Zuni are known for high-quality lapidary work. The Zuni have been using turquoise and stone for adornment for thousands of years. In the mid-19th Century, the Zuni learned to work with silver from the Navajo. A man named Lanyade was the first Zuni to learn the art of silversmithing. He in turn, went on to teach others the skill.  In 1890, a man named Keneshde was the first to set stones into silver. By the mid-20th Century, Zuni artisans were recognized for their distinctive style of setting small pieces of stone into silver.

This delicate bracelet features 13 small turquoise stones. Each robin’s egg blue stone has been meticulously shaped and set on a sterling silver band. Small drops of silver line the edges and the sides are stamped with feather designs. It dates from the mid-20th Century.

Condition: The bracelet is in excellent condition, with a lovely patina and solid stones

Provenance: From the estate of Frances Balcomb, passed through the family.

Recommended Reading: Zuni: A Village of Silversmiths by James Ostler