Teddy Weahkee
Zuni Inlay
and other Rare Vintage Zuni Jewelry

The Zuni are famous for their fine channel inlay jewelry.

Complex, silver channel designs are inlayed with turquoise, coral, shell and other gemstones.

The stones and shells are cut precisely fit the channels... the goal is seamless.

The original innovators of this mosaic style (stone against stone) art form were Teddy Weahkee
and Leo Poblano... Frank Vacit and Elizabeth Leekya's inlay is channel inlay... a minor distinction
 
These artists shared many things in common... Zuni is a small Pueblo. In particular, they shared
Leekya Deyuse. Leekya was Elizabeth's father (and of course Frank Vacit was his son in law).
Leekya was a contemporary of Teddy Weahkee and a mentor to Leo Poblano.

Zuni Channel Inlay began in the 1920's (with the help of CG Wallace, Zuni Pueblo Trading).
Zuni inlay is so popular today, nearly a hundred years later, that top Southwest silversmiths
 work hard to master the art... few do.

Teddy Weahkee
 
Knifewing Bracelet
 
Circa 1940's
 
Excellent - Like New Condition
 
Teddy Weahkee was the first to use Mosaic Inlay inside a channel.
Mosaic Inlay is stone against stone.

Teddy Weahkee was a painter, sculptor, stone cutter and
silversmith. Weahkee art is treasured by museums and
collectors alike. Rarely does it come to market.

Mother of Pearl, Turquoise, Jet and Spiney Oyster
 
The Butterfly Maiden measures
2" x 2"
 
The Bracelet is made for a 6" to a 6 1/4" wrist
 
It can not be adjusted
 
$6495
 
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Bobby & Corraine Shack... the photo is from Zuni,
The Art And The People, Volume II, 1976

Bobby & Corraine Shack
Superb - Investment Quality - 1970's
Knife Wing Pendant with handmade Silver Bead Necklace

The 1970's was the decade of Southwest Indian Jewelry.  Everyone wore it.
Even the Wall Street Journal wrote about its being a smart investment.

Demand was high and prices followed. The high prices gave silversmiths the
the artistic freedom to create masterpieces knowing their effort
 and the material costs would be recovered.

This beautiful pendant is such a superb example of that period.

4 1/2" x 4"

Its condition is as new.... signed and dated by the Shacks

$3550

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Fred Natachu - Zuni

"Old Pawn" Silver Spinner Pendant

Inlaid Sunface and Rainbow Dancer
2 1/8" Outer Ring

Circa 1950's

18" Handmade Silver chain included

Inlaid with Jet, Shell, Turquoise, and Coral

$925

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Eddie Beyuka Zuni Inlaid Bolotie

Apache Spirit Dancer

circa 1970's

Excellent Condition

Inlay like this started in Zuni in the 1920's or 30's. Among
the key artists were  Teddy Weahkee, Frank Vacit,
Leo Poblano, Lambert Homer.

It moved forward with Eddie Beyuka (deceased), Dennis
Edaakie,  the Benn's and Andrea Lonjose Shirley.

This work is rarely seen now

The Eddie Beyuka Spirit Dancer offered is an excellent example
 of this art form from a very well respected, published
 and collected artist.

It is meant to be worn, but could easily be mounted in
a shadow box and displayed on a wall.

Spirit Dancer is 5" tall

$3250

Original Leather string tie (which is worn and we would be happy to
replace at no cost) and Eddie Beyuka drum tips included.

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Chauncey and Bernice Simplicio Silver Pendant Pin

Circa 1960's - 1970's

The book pictured above is
Zuni The Art and The People

 Volume I

Excellent Condition

Signed in script with an engraver

Silver Flowers and Leaves with a gem Kingman Turquoise
 gemstone adorn the Inlaid Horse. The horse is
 Tortoise Shell, Mother of Pearl and Silver,

It can be worn as a pendant or a pin

1 1/2" long

$250

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Lambert Homer Silver Pin

Circa 1930's 1940's or 1950's

Long Hair Kachina is a prosperity figure that appears
 at Spring planting time.

Excellent Condition

Lambert Homer is widely recognized as one of the finest Zuni
jewelers to have lived. His work and that of Frank Vacit
are extraordinary,

This piece feels very much like a Vacit... thin delicate
silver channels with complex inlay.

There was no electricity in Zuni
 until the 1960's.

Made entirely by hand.

1 1/2" long

$1850

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Zuni Inlaid Bolo Tie

Rare Vintage Large Eagle Dancer Bolo Tie

Rare Vintage Large Eagle Dancer Bolo Tie
Dennis Edaakie - Zuni

Dennis Edaakie is among the most famous of the Zuni jewelers
specializing in gem inlay. This Eagle Dancer is reminiscent of
work from great Zuni artists like Frank Vacit,
Leo Poblano, and Eddie Beyuka.

They created jewelry, works of art, that seem alive... that dance
 in front of your eyes.
Over the last 80 years there have been
 few artists capable of such magic. 

This particular bolo tie is made from very fine gem
Morenci or Kingman Turquoise,
 Mother of
 
Pearl, Jet, and Coral.

It is unsigned, but a piece very much like it can be seen in the
Schaaf volume, American Indian Jewelry I (a fine reference
 book on the subject) - page 145. It was probably and early
 piece before the Edaakie's used a hallmark. It also may
 have been a personal piece or a gift to a friend, such
 pieces are rarely signed (but exquisitely
 made as is this one)

Circa  1950's or 1960's

It is in excellent, like new condition

A similar piece is said to have been made for President Truman

It is larger then he usually made and measures
3 1/2" across x 3 5/8" tall.

$4,500

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Rare Vintage Zuni Inlay Horse Bolo Tie

Helen and Lincoln Zunie (deceased)... Unsigned

Circa late 1940's or 1950's

This is the quality that made Zuni Inlay famous (although inlay is now
made by many people, it was the Zuni who began this style of Southwest jewelry
 in the 1920's. Very thin gauge silver channels are perfectly inlayed
with beautiful Shell and Gemstones.

Thin gauge, silver, channel work like this is very difficult since the
 heat necessary to lay the solder could easily melt or warp the silver.

The shell and gemstones are meticulously shaped and inlaid by
hand... electricity did not arrive in Zuni until
 the early 1960's.

Notice the fastener on the back is handmade (not a jewelry
supply store bought Bennett Clip) and the work itself is extremely
 graceful as in the style of Frank Vacit, Lambert Homer,
Leo Poblano and Teddy Weahkee... the great Zuni
 artisans who began it all.

3" tall x 2 1/2" long

$2485
 

A word of caution... copies, imitations and lesser examples of this bolo tie
are rampant. Theses copies do not begin to approach the quality or the art
of this beautiful, early, original.

This is a rare piece that will look as good hung on a wall
 as it will worn around your neck.

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Jerry Evans photographed during an Amazon River Expedition

See the Gerald Evans / CG Wallace Vintage Zuni Jewelry Collection

Zuni Jewelry - Pendants & Pins page 2

Zuni Jewelry -  Pendants & Pins page 3

Enter the Main Jewelry Gallery

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 800 462-8536

Sedona Indian Jewelry specializes in original, handmade Southwest Native American jewelry from noted / published silversmiths and artists. Choose exactly the American Indian jewelry you want from our extensive collections. We offer contemporary, traditional and vintage turquoise jewelry from collectible artists both living and deceased. Our Zuni jewelry, Hopi jewelry and Navajo jewelry is all authentic and handmade. We do not buy or sell offshore copies, forgeries or imitations. Our turquoise, coral, opal and other gemstones are all high grade. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Browse our collections and find the perfect piece for you. Call us to order 800 462 8536

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