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VINTAGE ZUNI KNIFEWING BOLO TIE & TIPS*SOLD*
Vintage Zuni Knifewing Bolo Tie
 
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Artist: Unknown
Circa: 1960's
Providence: Private Estate Collection
Our Price: $625.00


Availability: Usually Ships in 24 Hours
Product Code: E239BO
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Description
 
This beautiful vintage bolo tie is hand crafted Zuni work. Simple hand tooled silver work with precisely set inlay of coral, yellow mother-of-pearl, pin shell and natural turquoise form a traditional Zuni knifewing figure. The bolo measures 3" long by 2" wide.
Channel silver work, is known for its smoothness and luster. The artisan, using a silver base, first creates raised silver channels, also called bezels, to divide his chosen pattern into tiny compartments. Then taking into account his compartment shapes and bezel depth, he painstakingly shapes a variety of colorful stones or shells into a perfect fit. After fixing them in place, he follows with a final polishing. In channel inlay, silver bezels, then, are an intricate part of the pattern.
The Zuni are known for their fine silversmithing, which began in the 1870's after learning fundamental techniques from the Navajo. Lanyade was the first Zuni silversmith, who learned the art from Atsidi Chon, a Navajo smith. By 1880, Zuni jewelers already set turquoise in silver. Today jewelry making thrives as an art form in at the Zuni Pueblo. Many Zuni have become master silversmiths and have perfected the skill of stone inlay, channel inlay, needlepoint and petit point. They found that by using small pieces of stone they were able to create intricate designs and unique patterns. Their style of work is very tedious and time consuming.
Unfortunately many of the Zuni jewelry designs have been reproduced over seas and is being sold in the U.S. as authentic Zuni jewelry. Always buy from reputable dealers and ask for a written guarantee that the piece is American Zuni made.

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