This rare look at a
beautiful collaboration between two artists from different backgrounds, shows
the Navajo silversmith creating a piece to which a Zuni inlayer could apply
their talents. This beautiful silver and inlaid Roadrunner belt buckle by Mary
Morgan, measures 3 3/16” by 1 ¾”. Will fit a 1 3/16” belt.
Navajo artist Mary
Morgan worked with different Zuni artists over decades. Her closest partner in
this style of work was Lambert Homer Sr. According to Mr. John Kennedy, `there
was no better team than these two people”. The fine lined inlay, with the
absence of any filler leads us to attributing this to be the inlay work of
Lambert Homer Sr. with the Hallmarked silver work by Mary Morgan.
Mary worked for
trader John Kennedy Sr. from the 1950’s into the very early 1960’s, in which
she never hallmarked her work. Beginning in the mid 1960’s she went to work for
Trader Tobe Turpen and began using the M hallmark. Lambert Homer Sr. was
towards the end of his career, dealing with poor eyesight and semi-retired in
the early – mid 1960’s. We believe this wonderful buckle was within this
transition of both artists.