Genuine American Indian Jewelry by Traci Bowekaty is featured at Bair's.

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Handmade Zuni Corn Earrings
Silversmith: Tracey Bowekaty
Bio information on Tracey Bowekaty and other American Indian silversmiths

These beautiful "corn" earrings are handmade by Tracey Bowekaty of Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. They're handcarved from spiny oyster shell, jet, mother of pearl, and turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Arizona and each one is set in sterling silver. The colors of spiny oyster will include shades of tan, orange, red and purple. The detailed "kernels" are inlaid pieces of coral, jet, lapis, malachite, spiny oyster shell, and turquoise. Please note that the photos show the items larger than actual size.

Corn is the most sacred of all Native American plants and it has been a dietary staple of the Indians of the southwest for 3000 years. The stories of corn are of appreciation for this gift from the Great Spirit. Corn motifs are widely utilized throughout all aspects of living. Of the three staple food crops, corn, beans, and squash, corn is the only one that must be replanted each year. (See below for more about corn.)

Earrings with Posts

Spiny Oyster shell Zuni corn earrings by Traci Bowekaty

Spiny Oyster shell corn earrings by Tracey Bowekaty

Please note that the photos show the items larger than actual size.
Each pair of these earrings will vary in color, slightly lighter or darker than those
pictured, and in the layout and stone stone selection of the "kernels."

Size: Approximately 1" long and 3/4" across the tips of the "husks."
The carved shell is approximately 5/8" high and 3/8" wide.
Material/Stones: Sterling silver, spiny oyster shell. Inlay material will vary to include
some of the following: coral, jet, lapis, malachite, spiny oyster, turquoise.
Style: Carved shell earrings with inlay pieces and post backs.
Handmade by: Tracey Bowekaty
Signed: "TEB" over "Z" for Zuni.

Item Number: 84-TB-149O
Price: $48.00
S/H/I: $6.90, includes Delivery Confirmation.
Orange Spiny Oyster Corn Earrings with Posts.

Other Earrings are available in Purple Spiny Oyster and Mother of Pearl, with post or with wires.

Earrings with Wires

Please note that the photos show the items larger than actual size.
The image above is a sample of one of the variations* of the Orange Spiny Oyster Corn Pin which can also be worn as a pendant. Each piece may vary in color slightly lighter or darker than the one pictured above. Also, the layout and stone selection of the "kernels" will vary in each piece.
Orange Spiny Oyster Corn Earrings same as above except with Earwires
Total length with wires is approximately 1.5".

Item Number: 84-TB-148O
Price: $48.00
S/H/I: $6.90, includes Delivery Confirmation.
Orange Spiny Oyster Corn Earrings with earwires.

Click to see Corn Pin/Pendants by Traci Bowekaty.

Earrings with Posts

Turquoise corn earrings by Traci Bowekaty

Please note that the photos show the items larger than actual size.
These earrings are carved from turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Arizona.
The layout and stone selection of the "kernels"will be different in every pair.

Size: Approximately 1" long and 3/4" across the tips of the "husks."
The carved turquoise is approximately 5/8" high and 3/8" wide.
Material/Stones: Sterling silver, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise. Inlay material will vary to
include some of the following: coral, jet, lapis, malachite, spiny oyster, turquoise.
Style: Carved turquoise with inlay pieces and post backs.
Handmade by: Tracey Bowekaty
Signed: "TEB" over "Z" for Zuni.

Item Number: 84-TB-149T
Price: $48.00.
S/H/I: $6.90, includes delivery confirmation.

Earrings with Posts
Item Number: 84-TB-148T
Price: $48.00.
S/H/I: $6.90, includes delivery confirmation.
Turquoise Corn Earrings same as above except with Earwires (not pictured).
Total length with wires is approximately 1.5" long.

Other Earrings are available in Purple Spiny Oyster and Mother of Pearl, with post or with wires.

"Perhaps in part because of the nurturing relationship required, corn has a position in Pueblo culture far above that of any other food source." "Corn is cared for by the women at most pueblos. Some women even sing gently to the corn. At some pueblos, a long perfect ear of yellow corn represents the male, and a shorter double-ear of white corn represents the female." "Corn Mother is honored for nurturing her people with the flesh of her body, corn. And her flesh is utilized in many ways...corn pollen is used for blessings...corn husks are used for wrapping corn foods, for decorations...the colors of the the six directions are the six colors of corns: yellow, white, red, blue, black, and speckled. It is ground, boiled, baked, dried, fried, parched, and popped."
Quotes are from "Spirit in the Stone, a Handbook of Southwest Indian Animal Carvings and Beliefs," by Mark Bahti, courtesy of Rio Nuevo Publishers.

Turquoise corn earrings and pin/pendant set by Zuni silversmith Traci Bowekaty

Earrings and pins can be combined to make a set. The image on the left shows the proportion of the two items. Small pendants, which are the size of an earring, are also available.

Click to see Corn Pin/Pendants by Traci Bowekaty.

Corn is the most sacred of all Native American plants and it has been a dietary staple of the Indians of the southwest for 3000 years. The stories of corn are of appreciation for this gift from the Great Spirit. Corn motifs are widely utilized throughout all aspects of living. Of the three staple food crops, corn, beans, and squash, corn is the only one that must be replanted each year.
"Perhaps in part because of the nurturing relationship required, corn has a position in Pueblo culture far above that of any other food source." "Corn is cared for by the women at most pueblos. Some women even sing gently to the corn. At some pueblos, a long perfect ear of yellow corn represents the male, and a shorter double-ear of white corn represents the female." "Corn Mother is honored for nurturing her people with the flesh of her body, corn. And her flesh is utilized in many ways...corn pollen is used for blessings...corn husks are used for wrapping corn foods, for decorations...the colors of the the six directions are the six colors of corns: yellow, white, red, blue, black, and speckled. It is ground, boiled, baked, dried, fried, parched, and popped."
To the Navajo, corn, the symbol of food, fertility, and life itself, is of major importance. Standing straight and tall, corn resembles human beings standing in rows. White corn is thought, by the Navajo, to be male, yellow corn is female. "The Navajo also use corn meal and corn pollen in their religious observances, and corn (nah-tah) is one of the four sacred plants."
Selected quotes are from "Spirit in the Stone, a Handbook of Southwest Indian Animal Carvings and Beliefs," by Mark Bahti, courtesy of Rio Nuevo Publishers. Please see our book listings for this and other books.

See books for sale about American Indian Jewelry.

PLEASE NOTE: Orders of multiple items may result in a reduction of the total
amount charged for shipping/handling/insurance that is listed per item.
Any such reduction will occur before charging your credit card.

Free Shipping/Handling/Insurance on all Navajo rug orders over $500.00
Free Shipping/Handling/Insurance on all other orders over $250.00
(S/H/I fees posted on orders of multiple items that when added together total over $500.00 for
rugs, or over $250.00 for all other items will be adjusted off before charging your credit card.)

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