Appaloosa Inlay Bolo Tie

Fabrication of the equine form and tips utilized mill-rolled sheet sterling silver.  The saddlehorn and headstall silver is made of ingot material and shaped.  Tie tips are made of silver sheet with stamped decoration and a fluted bead terminal with silver raindrop.  The horse's body is inlaid with contrasting dark brown and white shell with brown spotted cowrie shell for the rump and hind leg.  Saddle and stirrup are cameo and mellon shell with carved turquoise "blanket", finely cut and shaped, forms the head stall reins and chest piece.  All are of Blue Gem mine material in hues of teal and green. The horse's eye and leaves beneath his hooves are all of a natural deep sky blue, the foliage with carved detail.

A Bennett clip secures the hand-braided leather black cord.

This proud animal, so beautifully rendered, is one of Dan Simplicio's finest creatures.  His love of horses and appaloosas in particular, is clearly palpable in this, one of his best equine renderings.

A Zuni jeweler who sometimes collaborated with Leekya Deyuse, Lee Edaakie, Teddie Weahkee and Leo Poblano, Dan Simplicio was most active creating metal art between the 1920's through the late 1950's. Simplicio utilized gold as early as 1931, which may make him one of the first Zuni jewelers to work in gold.

He produced both fabricated and sandcast jewelry. Dan employed setting techniques to include nuggets, cluster formats, mosaic work and channel inlay. His uncle, Juan de Dios is acknowledged as Dan's main instructor.

His work is cited in every major publication chronicling 20th century Zuni jewelers. Dan's jewelry was included in the 2002 exhibition staged at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe "Jewels of the Southwest".