Zuni Handmade Heart Earrings

Turquoise heart earrings are Zuni handmade of sterling silver. A tiny turquoise heart at the top with a post attaches to a larger heart that dangles. Native American earrings measure approximately 3/4" long and 3/8" wide at the widest point.

Zuni inlay jewelry describes a technique by which pieces of stone or shell are cut to fit into channels in the silver (also referred to as channel work). Each stone is cut, then ground to its final shape and set into the channels in the sterling silver. Some Zuni silversmiths also create their inlaid jewelry absent the channels, preferring to inlay the stones directly next to another stone. Many stories have been told describing the reasons why an artist makes a certain piece of Native American jewelry and the mystical significance a particular piece holds, however, the vast majority of Zuni Indian jewelry is made because the silversmith desires to express an artistic design using sterling silver and genuine stones. Put simply, it is the artist’s way of making a living.