G-8-26 Zuni channel inlay pin.
The people of Zuni Pueblo speak what is known as a language isolate which means that it has no relationship to any other native language and is simply called Zuni. Their pueblo can be found in west central New Mexico about 30 miles from Gallup. After the introduction of silver working in the southwest by the Spanish, both the Navajo and Pueblo peoples began making silver jewelry. The Zuni became particularly known for two types of jewelry: inlay and stone clusters. There were several types of inlay of which stone on stone and channel inlay are the most common. This thunderbird pin is done in channel inlay in which each of the stones is separated by a band of silver. As in this case, the channel inlay is most often done all in turquoise. A nice older example done in all natural stones.
2 inches h. by 2 1/4 inches w. Circa 1950. $595.00