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This beautiful, 1950's sterling silver box with a wonderful Zuni inlaid Deer, with carved Leekya Deyuse leaves and Sunface was crafted by Frank Patania Sr. (1889-1964). This lovely box features beautiful branch coral, a channel inlaid deer and 3 Leekya leaves on one corner and a very nice inlaid sunface on the other corner. Heavy silver with an easy to open hinged top adds the final touches to this lovely box. Would add beauty and elegance wherever it sits.
The box measures 6 1/8" long by 3 5/8" wide and 1" deep. Hallmarked with his conjoined FP, sterling and the Thunderbird Shop mark.
Frank Patania Sr.'s was born in Messina, Italy in 1899, he followed the European tradition of apprenticeship in jewelry making. He was introduced to the work of the Native Americans in the 1920’s. He soon opened his first business called the Thunderbird Shop, located in Santa Fe, NM near the famous downtown plaza in 1927. Moving to Tucson for a second location in the 1930's, he ran both shops for the remainder of his life. Frank taught and employed Native American artist at both locations. Better known artists, such as Julian Lovato of the Santo Domingo pueblo in New Mexico and Arthur and Andy Rivera, along with many others.
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