Vintage Zuni Inlay Sunface Earrings | Sterling Silver

The Zuni have long been recognized as the premier lapidary artists of the Southwest, and this pair of vintage sterling silver Sunface earrings represents the tradition at a high level. Zuni stone-cutting experience is pre-Spanish — prehistoric — and their lapidary skill is not a modern art but a tradition developed over centuries before any silversmithing entered the picture. That heritage is evident in every element of this pair.

What distinguishes these earrings from the broad field of Zuni Sunface work is the quality of the carving. The eyes of the Sunface medallion — where most artists cut a straight jet slit, fast and repeatable — are here shaped with a subtle but deliberate curve. Each eye is an individually hand-formed piece of jet. There is no commercial reason to do this. It takes more time, more skill, and more care than the standard treatment, and it reads immediately to anyone who has handled a quantity of Zuni inlay work. It is the mark of an artist who was thinking about the face as a portrait, not a pattern.

The surrounding headdress is equally accomplished. Fan-cut mother of pearl rays — each one individually shaped and fitted — radiate in a full surround from the central medallion, tipped in turquoise and anchored at the apex by a stepped terraced crown of jet and white shell. Flanking coral cabochons frame the face at the shoulder points. The lower headdress arc continues the alternating MOP, coral, and turquoise sequence with consistent stone-to-stone fit throughout. The silver framing is clean and subordinate — exactly as it should be in fine Zuni work, where the silver exists to serve the stone.

The Sunface represents the sacred Sun Father in Zuni culture, honored for his vital role in the cycling of seasons and the success of crops. The quartered forehead — half turquoise, half coral — reflects the eternal balance between sunrise and sunset. The four traditional inlay materials are present in their canonical roles. Backs are stamped STERLING with post and push-back hardware. 

CONDITION

Good vintage condition. All stone inlay intact and secure. Silver shows natural patina and light surface wear consistent with age; tarnish visible on backs as shown in photos. Post hardware functional; both push-backs present. No chips, losses, cracks, or repairs noted. Polishing left to the buyer's preference.

SPECIFICATIONS