Circa 1870's Cottonwood Earrings Inlaid with Mosaic of Turquoise & Abalone

Likely the most important earrings we have had the privilege to offer.

The rectangular cottonwood base was cut and shaped carefully, so that the perfectly rounded edges with their "soft" corners create a simple, elegant frame.  The surface to be overlaid was then carved to a depth of approximately 1/16" of an inch, leaving an edge of uncarved original surface.  This "frame" is also about 1/16" in width.

Each earring tab is pierced off center at the top with the distance closest to one side designed to be worn nearest the face.  Natural turquoise pieces in deep hues of blue and green are precisely fitted together around a single rectangle of abalone shell.  The pinon pitch "cement" used to adhere these materials to their wooden base has been mixed with red earth pigment, which further compliments the beauty of the quality materials chosen by the artist.

Hopi or possibly Zuni pueblo made

"Unknown artist" is appropriate when a work of art is unsigned and a supported opinion about who made it is not available (on Savvy Collector).. "Attributed to" precedes the name of an artist when information suggests that it likely was made by that artist (on Savvy Collector).