Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2010 School for Advanced Research.
Pendant
Date: before 1952
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Overall: 5.6 x 5.6 cm (2 3/16 x 2 3/16 in.)
Medium: shell | turquoise | string
Credit Line: Gift of Amelia Elizabeth White, 1952.
Place Made:
Zuni Pueblo, McKinley County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.S726
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”): The main adhesive for this pendant seems to have been pitch. It is different shades of brown in different places, but it is the right color for pitch. Some repairs (to 3 or 4 turquoise insets that had probably fallen off) were made using what looks like plastic aluminum. A note on the catalog card by a researcher states that this is made from an abalone shell. This is definitely not abalone, and is probably a scallop shell.
This type of pendant is used in several pueblos. Many were, and still are, made at Santo Domingo. It is impossible to tell for sure at which pueblo this piece was made. Since the IAF record says they are Zuni, it is most likely they were purchased at Zuni, which means they were used there.
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.