COLLECTORS Zuni Bird Fetish Necklace By Andrew Emerson Quam. 2 Strands 56 Birds.
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:4312116 | Provenance: Ownership History Available |
| Origin: New Mexico | Tribal Affiliation: Zuni |
| Artisan: Andrew Emerson Quam | Handmade: Yes |
| Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
Andrew Emerson Quam was famous when he was alive for his extremely small fetishes which were strung on necklaces. Google him (add 'Zuni'). The Zuni have been fetish carvers since prehistory for religious reasons and fetish artists have been making them for trade as well after the traders developed a market for them. This necklace is special for a number of reasons. There are not many of them. Andrew Emerson Quam died at age 33 in 1976. Th...is necklace has birds made of various shells, turquoise, catlinite, jet, marble, and other stones; I like that better than some of his work with uniform material. These range from an inch to an inch and a quarter in the samples I have measured. The beads are turquoise, a little different, and adding a special attractiveness. I made a note, pictured, when I bought these from an Indian jewelry dealer's private collection. She had a financial emergency, and knew we were borderline compulsive about Indian art, but also knew we were limited by what we had already spent. We worked it out. About 30" end to end (see pics); 60 grams, although weight is not very important in this sort of piece.
This is a rare opportunity. I would never have had the opportunity for this if it weren't for those circumstances, and neither would you. Good luck.
This is a rare opportunity. I would never have had the opportunity for this if it weren't for those circumstances, and neither would you. Good luck.
