Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2009 School for Advanced Research.
Pin
Date: 1944
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Overall: 7.6 x 5.6 cm (3 x 2 3/16 in.)
Medium: silver | turquoise
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, for inclusion in the Mary Austin Memorial Collection, 1944.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.S529
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksOctavius Seowtewa during collection review visit February 17 and 18, 2010 (Events Record “Collection Review: Zuni Tribe, Review 4”): This pin depicts Knife Wing. It was made using sandstone casting. This technique used to be common among Zuni jewelers, who used to melt down silver coins for material. Sandstone casting is rarely done at Zuni now.
Knife Wing is a figure in Zuni stories who helped the Zuni people find their homelands. Because he could fly he was able to help them find a good place to live. He is a symbol of strength and is associated with War Chiefs. He is also depicted on some types of altars. Knife Wing is always depicted as dressed very similarly to an Eagle Dancer. The difference between the two is that Knife Wing's face is different from an Eagle Dancer's face (for example, Knife Wing wears a round face with a cloud step headdress and the face doesn't include a beak). Though dressed much like an Eagle Dancer, Knife Wing is only a symbol and is not represented in dances. The Zuni name for Knife Wing is Achiyaladaba.
In Collection(s)
The Indian Arts Research Center, in collaboration with Native American community scholars, strives to present accurate collections records. Records may be updated as new information becomes available and is reviewed with the Native American community having cultural affinity to particular items. Please write to iarc@sarsf.org if you have questions or concerns related to the documentation.