The Captain Kit Kuittinen
Vintage Zuni Pueblo Turquoise Inlay Jewelry Collection
The Kit Kuittinen Collection was given to him by his
mother many years ago.
Kit gave it to his wife... sadly, she's passed on.
Vintage Zuni Inlaid Knifewing Ring
Circa 1950's 1960's
Silversmith Unknown
The condition is Fair... The inlay for the face
is missing.
The face could have been complex inlay or simply 1 gemstone.
Turquoise, Spiney Oyster, Jet and Mother of Pearl
1" tall
Ring Size 5 1/4
$125
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The following pieces are sold
Vintage Turquoise and Silver Bracelet
Circa 1950's - 1960's
sold
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The Kit Kuittinen Collection of vintage Navajo and Zuni Jewelry
This beautiful knife wing was hand hammered from silver coins. Knifewing's patina
is gun metal, silver, gray... like that of silver coins of the period. It was a common practice
in those days for silversmiths to use U.S. and Mexican coins, they being the
most handy.
Federal Laws were later passed prohibiting the destruction of US silver coinage....
ownership of gold and gold coins (not gold jewelry) was
outlawed by the Federal Government in 1933
Mosaic figures depicting Shalako dancers, Knifewing and Rainbow Gods, ...
Leo Poblano was one of the first among several Zuni artists to create mosaic inlay
... Teddy Weahkee is also considered and innovator in Mosaic Inlay. Mr. Weahkee
was older then Leo Poblano... Weahkee inlay is primitive compared to Poblano.
Without Teddy Weahkee's influence it is unlikely Leo Poblano
jewelry would look as it does.
Link to Teddy Weahkee Bracelet
Teddy Weahkee is most know today for his Zuni stone carvings... his carvings usually
sell in the $6,000 to $10,000 range. His daughter, Edna Leki, is a carving legend in
her own right. She has two famous Zuni carver daughters, Lena Boone and Dinah Gasper.
Sometimes collectors lose sight of how important an artist Teddy Weahkee was.
The reverse of Knifewing has the same patina as the obverse. Very lightly inscribed are
the letters GBAT. The letters are not noticeable unless you actually search for them.
I found the letters (under the pin) while searching for a hallmark. There is no
hallmark nor any other identifying mark. There are however, a few light
incising marks on the reverse... they look to me to symbolize
rain... rain in the desert is life.
The Knifewing is among the most powerful Zuni icons... it is
the Hunter Warrior...
The Priest of the Bow... its image (like this) is clearly documented by
Frank
Cushing in his 1880 - 1881 Zuni notes sent to the Smithsonian
In my search, I came across other Knifewings attributed to Leo Poblano, but they
were nothing like this. Artist's work, of course, changes over time... copying
great artists has always been a problem... nor is there any guarantee
jewelry
is accurately attributed by any author. There simply is no substitute for
your own due diligence.
The Kit Kuittinen Knifewing is photographed atop the Knifewings in
Dr Gregory Schaaf's, 1200 Biographies. Notice the Kuittinen Knifewing compared
to the documented
If Investment Southwest Native American Jewelry was graded like rare coins, this
Knifewing would (in my opinion) be graded Mint State 67... if not a 68
(using Sheldon's scale to 70). Knifewing's obverse is
spectacular... it is
a wonderful design with flawless lapidary and silver.
The reverse is
a joy as well. Its condition is like new.
This is a large pendant measuring 3 1/4" inches across and 3" long
The materials used are gem Water Web Kingman Turquoise,
Spiney Oyster, Black Jet and White Shell.
Notice the fine silver wire loops on the wings leading edges and the
beautifully stamped silver tail feathers.
$10,000
SOLD
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