@Ziacat No, I don’t. I purchased it online. The ring isn’t hallmarked, only stamped sterling. It’s well made and has a good heft. Oh, that’s a shame you missed meeting Mr. Yellowhorse. I feel you would have enjoyed that so much. You got a wonderful ring though.
While it may pale in comparison to @AC’s marvelous collection, I’ve been wanting to add these few to Jeff’s thread.
Due to attempting to capture all of them at once, the photo isn’t as clear as I would prefer. But if anyone desires to see anything closer or has a question, just let me know.
The Sunface, uppermost Knifewing, and three inlayed Rainbowman pins are all ca. 30’s-40’s. The cast Knifewing with two settings of turquoise bears C.G. Wallace’s “U.S. ZUNI 1” stamp, which dates it from 1937-1942. The Rainbowman placed at the top on the right side is scratched, on the backside of it’s head, with the earliest resale code, “EYY” from Wallace’s trading post. Thanks to the publication “Blue Gem, White Metal” that accompanied the Heard Museum’s exhibit of a portion of C.G.'s collection, we know that this dates it from 1928-1940. The third down, cast knifewing is attributed to Etsitty Tsosie, but I find that questionable. The remaining pins and bolo are fairly common Horace Iule originals.
Super collection, Aaron! I must say, the arrangement in the first photo is pleasing to the eye. If it’s not too much trouble, I would like a close up of the Sunface.
Sure thing, Tom, and thank you! They’re arranged in the center of a new Pendleton blanket that I picked up at the Eiteljorg last weekend.
I purchased that Sunface, and the larger Knifewing directly below it, together. When I received them, one of the white shell inlays on the Sunface was missing. Now, I’m not one to tear into boxes, but after very carefully searching the box, packing material and surrounding area to no avail, I called the seller, and they looked all over their place as well. With neither of us having any luck, I sent it to Shiprock and Paul had Jimmy Begay repair it. While it may not be a perfect match to the other three, I’m thankful Jimmy was willing to do it and I feel it gives the pin another story to tell.
Amazing, beautiful collection! It’s lovely to see them all together. I’m curious about the face in the third one down. And I was going to ask you about the blanket
I think I have the book you mentioned…I need to go look…
ohhhh, i think i need this.
That Knifeiwng is totally different, at least far as examples I’ve seen. His slight head tilt and facial expression are both elements that @TAH expressed amusement on, and are ones that I find most satisfying about him in particular. Here is a clearer close up for you.
While obviously gone about in an entirely different manner, it reminds me of this rather unique Juan de Dios Knifewing, crafted in 1934, from the Heard.
I’m not relaying that I feel my pin was made by Juan, it’s more probable that it is an earlier work of Horace Iule, but this is all conjecture. The only known fact is that it passed through Wallace’s trading post during the timeframe mentioned previously.
I thought you did, I feel it’s been referenced in the past. Regardless it’s a great one for fans of such work!
I feel it’s a reference of incomparable status for anyone even slightly interested in the earlier works. That being said, I’ll agree with you, @Jemez2, you certainly do need this.
Wonderful collection …and display ! Congratulations!
Thank you, @August. It’s taken a few years to gather these guys, but this is the first time I’ve shared them.
That’s it! We bought it years ago at the Heard at an exhibit they had on Zuni silversmithing. Gotta drag it out again!
Oh I love that little guy’s face and expression! I don’t know much about knifewings, but I your collection is amazing.
Wow what a collection! Thanks for sharing. I have that same alleged E. Tsosie knifewing with the thunderbolts and also share your skepticism, in that only Greg Schaaf gives that attribution, as far as I’ve seen. But I find him so appealing! All of these are supreme.
Thank you, @Ziacat and @chicfarmer, for your kind words and enthusiasm.
Just out of curiosity, does yours have any turquoise? If you would be so inclined to share, I would very much like to see it!
Our source is no doubt one in the same, and it’s the only published record of it that I’ve seen as well. Regardless of who coined the design, I find it enjoyable as well!
Oh my Gosh!! I think we paid around $10 for it at the exhibit, although that was a couple decades ago.
Hiya, slow day, lol, so I took a couple quick pics of my two Knifewing buddies. One is the cousin of yours, but with turquoise only for the eyes and mouth. Yours is very unusual to have turquoise at the end of the bolts! Don’t you just love the serpent on the torso? I’ve seen some poor casts of this figure with messy thunderbolts, ruins the poetry of its look.
The big one is often attributed to Horace Iule.
These are gorgeous also! And you know, I hadn’t even seen the thunderbolts on @Ravenscry’s knifewing till you posted yours. So cool, I love it!
I appreciate everyone that has shared their Rainbowmen and Knifewings. While out west I will have to pay better attention to them. Who knows one may strike my fancy.
Thank you for sharing these!
I do, it’s really a neat element.
I’ve seen these as well, and must agree, there is certainly a difference between examples like yours, and the ones we’re discussing. Tonight I’ll share clearer, up close photos of your Knifewing’s cousin and the Sunface for @TAH.
I wouldn’t doubt it! Both Knifewing and Rainbowman have a tendency to sneak up on prospective buyers.
These two Knifewings are just beautiful, @chicfarmer! Really like the one with thunderbolts. I can’t imagine the finishing process on each bolt.