Zuni Pueblo Channel Inlay Butterfly Earrings by Mable Watson [SOLD]

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Mable Watson, Zuni Pueblo Jewelry
  • Category: Earrings
  • Origin: Zuni Pueblo, SHE-WE-NA
  • Medium: turquoise, silver
  • Size: ⅝” x ⅝” PAIR
  • Item # C4496i
  • SOLD

Close up view shown on ear model (Mary).These beautiful channel inlay butterfly earrings were made by Zuni Pueblo artisan Mabel Watson. Mable’s skill as a lapidary artist is apparent in the way she cut and fit extremely small pieces of turquoise within equally small sections of silver. The result is a pair of shimmering turquoise blue butterfly earrings. The craftsmanship in these earrings is amazing! The earrings are signed with Mable’s hallmark MW. They are post earrings, made for pierced ears. 

Artists at Zuni Pueblo have been creating items of personal adornment made from small carved pieces of stone and shell since prehistoric times. Today, they are still recognized as masters of working with small pieces of stone set in silver. Known as “channel inlay” it is one of the more difficult methods of making Southwest Indian jewelry. Small pieces of stone must be carefully cut and shaped to fit into small silver channels. It requires great skill and precision to fashion channel inlay jewelry.


Condition: the earrings are in excellent condition. 

Provenance: these Zuni Pueblo Channel Inlay Butterfly Earrings by Mable Watson are from a collection in Colorado

Recommended Reading: Zuni Jewelry by Michael and Theda Bassman

Relative Links: Southwest Indian JewelryZuni PuebloEarringsMable Watson


Mable Watson, Zuni Pueblo Jewelry
  • Category: Earrings
  • Origin: Zuni Pueblo, SHE-WE-NA
  • Medium: turquoise, silver
  • Size: ⅝” x ⅝” PAIR
  • Item # C4496i
  • SOLD

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