Vintage Zuni Lapis Rainbow Man Pin Pendant by Fadrian Bowannie

About the Piece:

This is a wonderfully unique vintage Rainbow Man pin/pendant because it's set with all lapis lazuli in sterling silver rather than the multi-colored stones you see much more frequently. Handmade by Fadrian Bowannie, he's one of the few Zuni jewelers you'll find who occasionally created rainbow men in one single stone like jet, lapis or coral. It's an unexpected design element, and it makes for an eye-catching piece.

This lapis rainbow man is channel set in silver, and if you look closely, you can even see the tiny sparkles that appear naturally in lapis. 

The piece comes from the collection of a dear friend of mine, Sally. Some of you may have gotten to know Sally as she worked with me at Martha Struever's. You may have met her while she was overseeing the contemporary jewelry section of our annual Eldorado shows.

An artist herself, Sally had a great eye for the little details that made a piece extra-special. She wasn't fussy in her attire, and she loved to dress up her outfits with a single prominent pin. Because she worked for Martha Struever, she had first dibs at some of the stand out pins that came our way. 

We recently lost sweetest Sally, but she made sure that I'd offer you all her beloved jewelry. She knew just how much joy it could bring. 

Sally's Fadrian Bowannie pin/pendant measures 2 1/8" x 1 5/8" and is signed on the reverse. Try it pinned to a nice silk blouse, and you'll be amazed what it can do.

Summary:

Item:
Vintage Rainbow Man pin / pendant

Attribution:
Fadrian Bowannie (Zuni)

Materials:
Sterling silver, lapis lazuli

Dimensions:
Approximately 2 1/8" x 1 5/8"

Marks / Signatures:
Signed on the reverse by the artist

Provenance:
From the personal collection of my dear friend Sally, an employee of Martha Struever Gallery. An artist herself, Sally was known for her discerning eye and gravitated toward distinctive statement pins. This piece was one of her cherished selections.

Vintage Zuni rainbow man pin/pendant of lapis and sterling silver channel set inlay by Fadrian Bowannie.