Description
Carefully hand cut and individually set lapidary work is traditional to Zuni jewelry.
The late Alice Quam was, and still is, widely regarded as one of the finest jewelers in Zuni, specializing in the traditional cluster design.
These dramatic earrings are just like her work, and no wonder – Lorraine Waatsa is a daughter of Alice Quam, and learned her craft from her famous mother.
Brilliant blue, natural turquoise, is meticulously shaped, by grinding and cutting, into amazingly matching ovals.
The marks of the artist’s hand can be almost be seen in the circular, center stones.
Notice the tiny, serrated silver bezels that support each stone, and the glittering rope of twisted silver that surrounds the centers.
A little, round half-dome of polished silver gleams between each turquoise “petal”, mirroring the shiny ropes.
Absolutely classic, these earrings are also a little modern, too: they are larger, and make a more dramatic statement than many Zuni cluster pieces.
That radiant blue turquoise (Sleeping Beauty or Kingman) will light up every complexion, and these timeless earrings will attract admiration every time you wear them – which will be often.
