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

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Handmade Zuni Corn Pins
Silversmith: Traci Bowekaty
Bio information on Tracy Bowekaty and other American Indian silversmiths

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.)

These beautiful and unique "corn" pins are handmade by Traci Bowekaty of Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. While primarily worn as pins they can also be worn as a pendant. They're handcarved from jet, mother of pearl, spiny oyster shell, or genuine turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Arizona and each is set in sterling silver. The colors of spiny oyster will include shades of tan, orange, red and lavender. The detailed "kernels" are inlaid pieces of coral, jet, lapis, malakite, spiny oyster shell, and turquoise.
The pieces are approximately 1.25" long and 7/8" across the tips of the "husks." The stones are approximately 7/8" long and 1/2" across the widest part. The back of each pin is signed, "TE Bowekaty Zuni." Please note that the photos show the items larger than actual size.

Click here to see Corn Earrings by Traci Bowekaty.

Corn pin/pendant hand carved from spiny oyster by Zuni silversmith Traci Bowekaty

This pin was handcarved from a light colored orange spiny oyster shell.

This item is signed by the maker ("TE Bowekaty Zuni"). See below to view a sample of her signature and the pin/pendant back.

Order with confidence as your Satisfaction is Guaranteed.

This is a sample 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 as the one pictured above.
Also, the layout and stone selection of the "kernels" will vary in each piece.
Item Number: 86-TB-117O
Price: $40.00
S/H via First Class Mail: $6.70,
includes insurance & delivery confirmation.

"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.

Click here to see Corn Earrings by Traci Bowekaty.

Turquoise corn pin/pendant by Zuni silversmith Traci Bowekaty

This piece is representative of the pins handcarved from genuine turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty Mine in Arizona.

This item is signed by the maker ("TE Bowekaty Zuni"). See below to view a sample of her signature and the pin/pendant back.

The image above is a sample of the turquoise corn pin which can also be worn as a pendant.
The layout and stone selection of the "kernels" will vary in each piece.
Order with confidence as your Satisfaction is Guaranteed.
Item Number: 86-TB-117T
Price: $40.00
S/H via First Class Mail: $6.70,
includes insurance & delivery confirmation.

The image on the left shows a sample of the maker's signature. The image on the right shows the pin back and the loop for a chain. The loop will accommodate a chain up to 1/8" in diameter.

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

Earrings and pins can be combined to make a set. See Corn Earrings by Traci Bowekaty.

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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