Dale Edaakie Brooch of Inlay Blue Winged Teal From Audubon Birds

Zuni jeweler Dale Edaakie considers himself a wildlife artist. It's a fitting description for someone who creates complex inlay jewelry, often depicting wild animals that are so detailed it's hard to believe they were created using shell and stone. 

This Dale Edaakie brooch is one of only 7 in the world. It represents a Blue Winged Teal as originally painted by John James Audubon in his North American bird watercolors.

The creative idea to "paint" some of John James Audubon's birds using shell and stone came from the late Native American jewelry dealer Martha Hopkins Struever. She'd long been inspired by Dale Edaakie's work, and she asked if he'd be up to the challenge of translating Audubon bird watercolors into wearable art.

The result is this blue winged teal brooch along with six other bird brooches from Audubon's watercolors. The birds were originally sold as sets for $5800, but all of the sets now live in private collections. There are only a few individual birds left, the blue winged teal among them. 

Dale Edaakie's beautiful duck pin measures 4 5/8" length x 1 1/2" high and is signed and numbered on the reverse.