Zuni Jewelry

Obviously Zuni jewelry is one of a kind; this New Mexico pueblo Indian tribe is very traditional and religious, which is reflected in their art. The Zuni people have been skilled lapidary artisans since ancient times. These stone lapidary skills, which had developed over the years, were easily applied to the creation of ornamental jewelry. With the incorporation of an expertise in silversmithing, the Zuni have taken the art of stone decorative jewelry to another level. Talented Zuni jewelry makers are most well known for their complexity inlay channel designs, fine turquoise petitpoint and hand carved fetish jewelry. They have developed a unique look which can be easily spotted by collectors and jewelry connoisseurs alike.

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Zuni Tribe
Inlay Jewelry

Zuni Jewelry History

For centuries the Zuni Indians have worn jewelry made with simple designs of turquoise and other gemstones. The History of Zuni jewelry began long before the time of complex inlay stone and silver jewelry as seen today, the Zuni people were great lapidaries in ancient times. They made carvings of fetish ornaments and Kachina dolls, many fine skills were developed when working with small pieces of stone.

Metal working also introduces very early on as it is believed that an traveler taught the people to build one of the first native American forges in exchange for a good horse. Though this acquired craft did not serve artistic purposes, it allowed the Zuni tribe to become familiar with metal working. It was not until the 1870s, that the idea of silver jewelry making first appeared in the Zuni tribe. A Navajo silversmith taught a Zuni friend the ways of jewelry making and that Zuni artist brought the idea back home and taught others.

The Zuni were easily able to apply their stone lapidary skills to this new found art and slowly they developed their own unique techniques and styles. As the demand for fine silver jewelry grew in the southwest, the Zuni jewelry makers quickly became well known for their extraordinary work. Today they are recognized as some of the most skilled stone jewelry artists and create some of the most intricate and complex stone and shell designs in the field of handmade jewelry making.

Intricate Zuni Jewelry Marks

The Zuni leave their marks in the Native American jewelry industry with the use of their extraordinary skills with stones. The hundreds of years of experience the Zuni have acquired, can be seen in the work put into their jewelry masterpieces. The most famous Zuni style jewelry is made with the channel Inlay technique. This technique is done by accurately forming channels in the silver base, then carefully inserting stones into the channels in particular patterns of shapes and colors. These techniques require great precision when cutting stones. Ideally these stones fit so perfectly together that it would be hard to believe the finished result was not one single stone painted in an array of colors. Though turquoise seems to be most adored natural specimen in Indian jewelry making, the Zuni use a wide assortment of stones and shells to give a variety of colors in their designs. The designs are usually of a recognizable Zuni mosaic or fetish

Being masters of working with small stones and skilled silversmiths, it was only natural that the Zuni jewelry makers became proficient with the petitpoint technique, also known as the needlepoint technique. This technique ,also seen in some Navajo pieces, is done but setting very small tear shaped stones close together side by side to create a pattern. Though there are many other styles of Zuni jewelry these noteworthy techniques have made the tribe stand out as some of the most skilled in their profession.