Zuni Pueblo PAIR Women’s Dance Wands

Dance wands are among the many ceremonial paraphernalia items that collectors seek for display and enjoyment. They are rectangular wood tablets with a handle at one end. When used in dances, one wand is carried vertically in each hand.

This PAIR of wands dates to the 1940s. They were made from crate wood rather than plywood. Holes were drilled into the corners of each wand, so that downy feathers could be attached. Each wand is mounted on a black display stand.

Wands of this style are used by women at Zuni and Hopi, and generally it is difficult to distinguish between the two pueblos. This pair appears to be from Zuni based on the image on the front, which appears to be a Thunderbird, a symbol seen frequently at Zuni Pueblo.

The unknown Zuni artist who created this pair did a fine job with design work. A winged figure with a sun face appears near the center of each wand. Corn designs rise from the bottom edges, and rain clouds hover above the winged figures. The designs are outlined in black and filled in with bright primary colors, creating a lively and intriguing scene.

Condition: good condition with wear from handling and use

Provenance: this Zuni Pueblo PAIR Women's Dance Wands is from a private Santa Fe collection

Recommended Reading: Ceremonial Costumes of the Pueblo Indians: Their Evolution, Fabrication, and Significance in the Prayer Drama by Virginia Roediger

TAG: Dance Paraphernalia