Federico has been a serious & avid collector of both Mexican & Native American jewelry & artifacts for decades now, with this piece coming from his vintage Native American collection..It's a fabulous old 1940's Zuni Sunface pin (Could possibly be early 50's) that caught my eye for it's wonderfully (And very obvious!) aged look!

Made in a mosaic inlaid 'wheel' design of precious Blue Gem turquoise,red shell,jet,and a hint of white mother of pearl,this pin has that 'beautifully aged' contrast of color that happens with natural turquoise, as it ages..Most of the turquoise sections have maintained their color,with some changing to a deep teal which tells me that the turquoise that was used was a higher/harder grade,with very little darkening in color.With turquoise,quality is judged by it's hardness.The harder the turquoise is,the higher the quality & the higher the quality,the less the color changes over time.

What gives this SO much character is for the fact that the cuts aren't precise,but have a very 'raw' look to them,so either the material was not meant to fit 'perfectly' between the bars OR the cuts have worn down from time & wear.(See all photos) You have to remember that at this time period,they didn't have the tools like they have today.. Along the entire perimeter are little triangular cuts of black jet & then beads sit in between each.This pin was actually made in one whole piece, which then they cut the Sunface portion out so it can be accentuated.

You can wear this on a hat(male or female's),a purse,coat or on just about any fabric.(You can decide which fabric-I however, would avoid any delicate fabrics,like silk)

**This is a wonderful pin that will shows the historical inlay art by the Zuni people..You will step back in time & 'feel' Zuni history every time you wear it..This has a darkened natural patina that has aged beautifully!

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ABOUT THE ZUNI 'SUNFACE':

The Sunface is an ancient symbol in Zuni culture, where it represents the sacred Sun Father. The Zuni have always honored the Sun's vital role in the cycling of seasons and the success of crops, recognizing that the Sun's warmth sustains life, enables growth, and brings joy and prosperity to the people.