Zuni

Zuni, inlay stones, coral and shells, needle point, sunface

The Zuni are a small tribe from the south west of the United States. They are direct descendants of the "Anasazi" who, long ago, owned large territories and many riches.

The Zuni were never much involved in conflicts and territorial wars and were little influenced from the outside world. Living mainly in the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico, they remain autonomous and resistant to the changes taking place around them. They have been able to protect themselves, especially by avoiding problems that do not concern them.

Today, although most of them are farmers, many of them are fine jewellers who make superb Native American jewelry with a unique style.

The Zuni are particularly known for:

Turquoise jewelry made with the Needle Point technique. It is a traditional and meticulous process which can be identified thanks to its beautiful compositions of turquoise finely cut in the shape of drops or chopsticks and arranged in the shape of a cactus flower.

At Harpo, we offer a superb collection of turquoise necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings made with this technique.

The Zuni Inlay is a gathering of real stones (most often turquoise, coral, mother-of-pearl and black-jet) carved and assembled by hand to create a geometric pattern. This composition is then polished for a smooth and elegant look.

The Zuni use different techniques of inlay: the “channel inlay”, where the stones are nested in silver compartments, the “plain inlay” in which the stones are nested together without being compartmentalized, and the “cobble inlay”, which shows a thick relief.

These different processes can be found in exceptional Native American jewelry, which we offer at Harpo.

The creation of fetish animals, protecting sculptures:

At the time when the Zuni lived on agriculture and hunting, these amulets were crucial to the hunters, who never failed to take them on their expeditions. The fetishes ensure the benevolence of the soul. Each animal represents its spirit, its own inner strength and protects the wearer.

The various Zuni collections available at Harpo will show you the exceptional dexterity necessary to create these Native American jewels made of turquoise and many other stones, full of magic and history, with a know-how passed down from generation to generation for more than 100 years.