Rare Zuni attr. Frank Vacit Carved No. 8 Turquoise Channel Set Necklace 1930s For Sale

WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT IT: this rare necklace bears strong similarity to a 1932 CG Wallace piece that ended up in the Heard Museum and which is depicted in Deborah C. Slaney\'s book Blue Gem, White Metal: Carving and Jewelry from the C.G. Wallace Collection in the Heard museum. That piece is also made of carved Number 8 turquoise and is channel inlay but the overall design is different. I believe this one is a slightly later piece by the same artist, Frank Vacit, and includes stamped raindrops and handmade chain and hook and eye. It is a gorgeous necklace and is unsigned as these early pieces were. I see a very similar piece to this one available in a gallery offered for over $5000.

BACKGROUND: Frank Vacit (1915-1999) was one of the most talented Zuni jewelers of his era. His career with inlay began in 1932 as he created jewelry for C.G. Wallace. He pioneered the channel inlay technique as well as creating pieces with mosaic inlay. He worked into the early 1960’s and became a master of his craft. This beautifully designed necklace, attributed to him, is a classic Vacit design. He has designed this piece to optimally display the Number 8 Turquoise beveling each stone to add another dimension to the design. In addition to the main necklace this piece features a beautiful hand crafted silver link chain.

CONDITION: excellent vintage wearable and collectible, with minimal age related wear.

MEASUREMENTS:

• length, roughly following the inside: 20\"

• hanging length about 10-1/2\" from top of clasp to bottom of central pendant

• weight 61.92grams

• not marked for silver content which is usual for those times, but it is at least coin at .900 or sterling at .925

• not marked for artist which is usual

for his early work

but strongly attributed to Frank Vacit, Zuni

SUMMARY:

This is one of the most gorgeous necklaces, with hand carved Number 8 turquoise stones set in channel inlay with hand stamped raindrops and hand made solid chain with hand made hook and eye closure. A great favorite, a fabulous necklace by one of the great Zuni artists in history.

RED TAPE:

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