This beautifully crafted Zuni bolo is inlaid with natural, aged Blue Gem turquoise and Tortoise shell. This bolo was handcrafted by artists, Johnson and Roberta Banktewa. They were best known for this star design. It measures 2 3/4" tall by 2 1/8" wide. It is 39" long including the 2 1/4" tips.
Streamlined elegance is the best description for this beautiful Zuni bolo! Created in the early 1960's, this lovely channel inlay bolo looks beautiful on! Not hallmarked which was common on their earlier pieces, but their work is featured in the publication, Zuni The Art And The People.
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 are an intricate part of the pattern.