Zuni Pueblo Sterling Silver Oval Pin

ca. 1950

2" H x 2.375" W

Hand Crafted from Sterling Silver with 47 Inlaid Teardrop Blue Turquoise Stones Encircling the Outer Edge with 14 Diamond Shaped Stones and 1 Diamond Shaped Turquoise Stone in the Center

In Very Good Condition

Zuni Pueblo sterling silver oval pins are traditional Native American brooches (or pins/pendants) handcrafted by artisans from the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. Zuni jewelry is renowned for its intricate stonework, often featuring petit point (or needlepoint) styles—tiny, individually bezel-set turquoise stones in round, oval, or pointed shapes arranged in clusters or patterns—or channel inlay with materials like turquoise, coral, jet, mother-of-pearl, and shell.

These oval pins typically showcase a sterling silver base with delicate turquoise clusters, multi-stone inlays (e.g., birds, rainbows, or geometric designs), or needlepoint borders. They date back to techniques developed in the 1930s and reflect Zuni's emphasis on precision lapidary work, distinct from bolder Navajo or Hopi styles.

Provenance:  From the Len and Toni Wood Private Collection, Laguna Beach, California