Vintage H. IULE ZUNI Sterling Silver & Coral Cross Pendant Necklace

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Vintage H. IULE ZUNI Sterling Silver & Coral Cross Pendant Necklace:
$724.99

H. IULE (ZUNI) vintage signed cast sterling silver & coral cross with beautiful original silver beaded chain. Necklace weighs 44 grams including the chain. The cross measures 3 1/8\" tall incl the bail x 2\" wide. Total length of necklace measures 26\" incl clasp. Necklace is in great vintage condition. Both pendant and beaded chain are heavily tarnished from age. Don\'t know date of piece. It was a part of my grandmothers collection.

As early as 1944, when John Adair\'s groundbreaking study of Southwest Native American silver-working titled The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths was published, Horace Iule had achieved a level of success that enabled him to rely upon his craft for his livelihood. Identified by Adair as \"one of the two or three best artisans in the pueblo,\" Iule taught silversmithing at Zuni\'s government-funded day school, thus influencing an entire generation of silver workers.

A third-generation silversmith whose grandfather Hatsetsenane (or Sneezing Man) was, according to Adair, \"one of the first generation of Zuni smiths,\" Iule initially trained as a blacksmith at the Phoenix Indian School. Iule learned silversmithing from his father after completing his education and returning to the pueblo in 1924.

Horace worked with his wife Lupe Iule, who was from San Felipe Pueblo. They were married in 1933, and had six children: Ruby, Lupe, Cecilia, Robert, Barney, and Phillip.

Known for his mastery of silvercasting, Horace Iule was one of the first Zunis to produce the mythological Knife-Wing figure in silver. He is best known today for his castwork crosses.

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