Periodically, Wings decides to sell pieces from his private collection of Native art, including jewelry. Some of them are relatively newly acquired; others have been in his possession for years, even decades.
Today’s featured piece is one such.
It’s unsigned, and it’s been so many years that he no longer remembers the artist’s name. She’d be a young woman of the Pueblo by now. But at the time she made this simple little necklace, she was still a child.
It’s not a new phenomenon: He’s always tried to help younger artists with a hand up, and to encourage those who begin as children to pursue their vision. The latter he regards as especially important; he remembers all too well how it felt to have one dream, the dream of pursuing his art, and to have it nearly denied by circumstance.
There’s another goal, too: As we covered yesterday, it’s important to leave a legacy for future generations, one that passes down the culture’s arts, and gives those arts an audience. Over the years, he’s bought everything from holiday ornaments to miniature bow-and-arrow sets to miniature pots and tiny sculpture that were made by Taos Pueblo’s children. Some he’s put out for sale in the gallery immediately; some, like this one, spoke to him personally for a time, and were added temporarily to his private collection.
A couple of weeks ago, we went through some of his old pieces. At long last, he decided that it was time for this one to find its permanent home. And while it was made by a child, it’s perfectly suitable for wear by adults, women and men alike. From its description in the Other Artists: Miscellaneous Jewelry gallery:
This simple little necklace is one from Wings’s private collection, made years ago by one of the Pueblo’s children. Strung on simple fishing line, it features spiraled metal tube beads with a coppery glow. Half-way down the length of the necklace, they begin alternating with rough-polished chip beads of spiny oyster shell in purple and white, centered by a single square bead of sky-blue Arizona turquoise with a silvery-black pyrite matrix. Necklace is roughly 18″ in total length. Full view shown below.
Metal beads; spiny oyster shell; turquoise
$125 + shipping, handling, and insurance
It’s a wonderfully simple little piece, made in the old style of a mix of inexpensive and higher-value traditional materials, understated enough to wear anytime, anywhere. It’s also a modestly priced piece of Pueblo jewelry good for a younger person.
And even though the name of the little jeweler is lost to us now, it still pays tribute to her work and skill at an old art form.
~ Aji
All content, including photos and text, are copyright Wings and Aji, 2015; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owners.
