Turquoise Pin - Zuni Sunburst - Petit Point American Indian Brooch - Vtg 1920\'s
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Turquoise Pin - Zuni Sunburst - Petit Point American Indian Brooch - Vtg 1920\'s:
$195.00
The traditional technique of Zuni jewelry art isby cutting turquoise into tiny pieces and setting each one separately in aclassic design. Beautifully matched in size and shape, as well as its heavenlyblue hue, the Sleeping Beauty turquoise is accented with sterling silverrounds, and delicate twisted ropes in a timeless design, first-rate workmanshipand beautiful color.
This Brooch Pin came to me through my formermother-in-law who traveled through Arizona/New Mexico back in the early 1960’sand picked up some old turquoise and silver jewelry pieces along the way, so itis already 60+ years within the same family. However, this was already consideredan old vintage piece when she purchased it and is called “Old Pawn” AmericanTribal Indian jewelry from about the 1920’s; and considering its age (almost100 years), it’s in excellent condition. As with many pieces of Zuni or Navajojewelry from that era, they were unsigned by the artisan, usually a familymember since this is what they would personally wear within the tribal family.
I have not polished this sterling silver andturquoise brooch preferring to leave that up to the new owners who will have anheirloom piece to pass down through generations to come. The true value lies inowning a piece of American History off the Zuni Indian reservations where\"old pawn\" represents the real Indian jewelry.
Pin measures approximately 1-1/2\" incheswide by 1-1/8\" inch tall with a retail value up to $550 dollars, weight is5 grams.Insurance, signature and delivery confirmation included in the price Silver Jewelry of the Navajo and Pueblo Indians
The value and emotional attractionfor old pawn Indian jewelry is that it has been owned, appreciated, worn, andused by real living Indians. We see old pawn jewelry as an intimate relic of apeople and a culture which is slowly and inevitably disappearing into history.The more we learn of Indian silversmiths and old pawn jewelry the more we areconvinced that the old silversmiths produced a higher standard of their art forIndians than they did for traders and non-Indians.
When a Navajo man or womanwanted a piece of jewelry he went to a silversmith, usually a relative. Thepiece was made to order and scaled to the wearer\'s size and build. In mostcases the buyer furnished the makings - silver, turquoise, old jewelry orwhatever was needed. Indianjewelry served as decoration, a display of wealth, and as collateral againstloans at the trading post. The pawn rack was an important and respectable partof the economic and social life of the Zuni/Navajo. Jewelry moved in and out ofpawn at regular seasonal intervals synchronized to the spring and fall lamb,wool, and harvest activities. Much of the jewelry was withdrawn from pawnduring the summer dances and ceremonials, and returned to the vaults againduring the winter months.
Thediscerning Zuni/Navajo knew beauty and excellence in craftsmanship and wouldnot wear sloppily made, poorly constructed silver. The quality and color ofturquoise may not have been the best, but the silversmithing was somethingelse. The Navajos kept their silver bright, shining, and untarnished by brushingit in yucca suds and water. Theamount of cash or credit advanced depended on the amounts of silver andturquoise, and the owner\'s credit rating with the post. It was seldom that a Zunipawned all his silver with one trader. Old established traders set their owntime limits with the individual regardless of the general law which onlyrequired traders to hold pawn for thirty days.
Onelicensed pawn rack at Gallup, New Mexico holds jewelry in the vault for 90days. If the loan contract is not satisfied or renewed, it goes on display in awarning case for 30 days before it is classified as dead pawn. In summary,the old pawn racks were rich and splendid sources of the jewelry created by thefinest Navajo silversmiths of their day, for their own people, anduncontaminated by taste and influence of alien people and cultures. If a pieceof old Navajo pawn could talk, what a story it would tell of dances,ceremonials, and happy times along the beautiful way of Indian life. align=\"left\">
MADE IN AMERICA
Turquoise Pin - Zuni Sunburst - Petit Point American Indian Brooch - Vtg 1920\'s:
$195.00