Name: Zuni Sunface Pendant with Onyx
SKU: Aprilene Unkestine--2733
Availability: InStock

Zuni Sunface Pendant with Onyx

$250.00

Zuni Sunface Pendant with Onyx

Wonderful Zuni made Sunface (Zia) pin and pendant inlaid with turquoise, coral, mother-of-pearl and onyx in Sterling silver, created by master silversmith Aprilene Unkestine. 2 in. dia.; 17.3 grams

The Sunface is an ancient symbol in Zuni culture, representing the sacred Sun Father.

2 in stock

Zuni Sunface Pendant with Onyx

Native American Zuni Made Sunface (Zia) Pin Pendant by Aprilene Unkestine

Wonderful Zuni made Sunface (Zia) pin and pendant inlaid with turquoise, coral, mother-of-pearl and onyx in Sterling silver. This beautiful piece was created by master silversmith Aprilene Unkestine.

Dimensions:

2 in. dia.; 17.2 grams

SKU

Aprilene Unkestine–2733

The Sunface is an ancient symbol in Zuni culture, where it represents the sacred Sun Father. The Zuni have always honored the Sun’s vital role in the cycling of seasons and the success of crops, recognizing that the Sun’s warmth sustains life, enables growth, and brings joy and prosperity to the people. The symbol’s round motif depicts the Sun with a forehead split down the middle to reflect the eternal balance between sunrise and sunset. Rectangular eyes and a round mouth complete the face, and the whole is encircled by feathers that radiate outward like sunlight.

For centuries the Sunface design has appeared on a variety of surfaces and objects, but in its most cherished traditional form it’s composed of precious stones that are as meaningful as they are beautiful. The turquoise in the upper-right represents oneness between the physical and spiritual realms; the coral alongside it offers protection and comfort. The Sun’s main face is made of mother of pearl, which embodies intuition and imagination, while the black jet of fossilized wood completes the face’s features. Together these four materials and their vividly contrasting colors balance each other within a unified circle.

The usage of all materials: sterling silver, shell, coral and mother of pearl goes deep into the tradition of spirit and earth.

We only offer hand crafted Native American created authentic jewelry.

They are handmade by various artists from several different tribes. Crafted from sterling silver and accented with gorgeous, natural materials, our vast collection offers unique pieces of wearable art.

Jewelry plays a large role in Native American culture. It tells stories, holds history, and represents spiritual beliefs and cultures of every tribe across America.

Beginning as early as 12,000 years ago, jewelry-making was unique to the respective geographic area of each tribe, featuring natural materials that could only be found in surrounding environments. This allowed tribes to offer slight variations in designs since the supplies necessary to craft these delicate accessories were major trade items. Jewelry-making has evolved in technique and materials used over the years, but still is a primary focus of Native American culture today.

We source jewelry from the Algonquin, Apache, Hopi, Lakota, Navajo, Santo Domingo, and Zuni people.

Read more about the history and origins of Native American Jewelry.

Go to our main page to read about us.

Other categories that may be of interest: Native American Necklaces & Bolos can be found at Native American Jewelry

We also offer authentic Hopi and Navajo Katsinas, Kachinas, Zuni Fetish, Drums & Flutes.