Vintage 4-Piece Ranger Buckle Set with Horse Inlay
This remarkable vintage belt is the work of Zuni husband-and-wife duo Lincoln and Helen Zunie (deceased) who are well-known and widely recognized for their remarkable inlay work, particularly of animal images. The buckle on this beauty is an intricate horse in profile crafted from turquoise, black onyx, red coral, and shell, accented by matching keepers and tip. Whether you love horses or simply have an appreciation for inlay, this is a covetable collector.
Materials: sterling silver, shell, turquoise, onyx, coral
Measurements: buckle: 2 ¼” x 3 ¾”; keeper: 1” x 3/8”; tip: ¾” x 1 ¼”
Price is for buckle set only. Belts are sold separately.
About the artist
Lincoln and Helen Zunie
Lincoln Zunie (1938-1983, Zuni). Active 1960s-1970s
Helen Zunie (? - 2008; Zuni). Active 1960s - 1970s
Helen and Lincoln Zunie are Native American jewelry artists who create traditional and contemporary pieces using techniques passed down through generations of their family. The Zunie family is from the Zuni Pueblo, a Native American tribe located in New Mexico known for their intricate and highly skilled jewelry-making.
Helen and Lincoln Zunie work with a variety of materials, including turquoise, coral, and sterling silver. They are known for their distinctive inlay work, which involves carefully cutting and shaping stones to create intricate designs that are then set into the metal of the jewelry.
Helen and Lincoln Zunie have won numerous awards for their jewelry, including the prestigious "Best of Show" award at the Santa Fe Indian Market in 2011. Their work is highly prized by collectors and is considered an important contribution to the ongoing tradition of Native American jewelry-making.
Hallmarks: H-L ZUNIE
