Zuni inlay head dress pin- Pawn Jewelry

Zuni handcrafted pin/pendant. Featuring a traditional headdress design. Eagle feathers along the top surround a center "sunface" design. It is made up of 3- sections; top ring in blue turquoise represent Father Sky, the top left in dark red coral represents Mother Earth and a bottom 1/2 moon. The circular shape has 3 elements which represent the 3 roots of life; animal, vegetable and mineral. Nicely crafted.

 It comes attached to its original red pawn ticket.The term "pawn" refers to jewelry that has been pawned to brokers. The practice of pawning jewelry began in the early 1900s when Native Americans and traders would exchange jewelry for food and other necessities, it is still used today and is embedded in the Navajo culture. 

Material: Sterling silver, turquosie and mother of pearl

Tribe affiliation: Zuni

Time period: current 

Overall measurements of the mounting: 1-1/8" across (all measurements are approximate)