Dennis Edaakie (1931- ) and Nancy Edaakie
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Dennis
and Nancy Edaakie started making jewelry in 1965 and have become known
for finely detailed bird imagery on pieces made in the overlay inlay
technique. Dennis's father, Merle Edaakie, did stonework for trader
C. G. Wallace.
In 1970, at the urging of traders Ruth and Leon Ingram, Dennis and
Nancy first produced inlay jewelry bearing images of birds. Overlay
inlay is similar to Hopi overlay. In both methods, one piece of silver
with a cut-out pattern is overlaid on another piece of the same size
and shape. In the Hopi technique the bottom layer is darkened so that
the cut-out areas contrast with the polished silver of the top layer.
In the Zuni overlay inlay technique, mosaic stonework fills the blanks,
forming a brilliantly colored counterpoint to the monochromatic silver.
Beginning in the late 1970s, Dennis and Nancy further innovated on
the overlay technique through the use of gold, as opposed to silver.
Dennis has been given credit for development of the spinner pendant,
another design he developed at the urging of the Ingrams. This form
of pendant can be reversed while remaining on the wearer's neck. Dennis
first produced flat spinner pendants, but he now also makes a domed
version.
Nancy started out doing some of the inlay details on Dennis's work
and now does all of the inlay. Dennis has always done the silverwork
on their pieces. They originally used a parrot beak stamp as their
hallmark, since Dennis is of the parrot clan. Later, they used DENNIS
E., and, subsequent to that, DENNIS AND NANCY EDAAKIE. Dennis and
Nancy Edaakie's sons, Myron, Sanford, Derrick and Dale, also make
overlay inlay jewelry.
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Gold
Inlay Watchband
Dennis and Nancy Edaakie (Zuni)
Gold, turquoise, jet, coral, shell, mother-of-pearl
1984
KMA 89.016.329 |
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Gold
Inlay Pendant
Dennis and Nancy Edaakie (Zuni)
gold, coral, shell, turquoise, mother-of-pearl
c. 1970s
19.625 in. long
KMA 89.016.320 |
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Silver Inlay Bolo Tie
Dennis and Nancy Edaakie (Zuni)
Silver, coral, jet, turquoise, shell, mother-of-pearl
c. 1970s
19.75 in. long
KMA 89.016.597 |
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Links:
http://www.americanmastersofstone.com/Artists/Edaakie
www.Indianart.painter.net/artist.htm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/s/lot-85681.html
www.yellowhorse.com |
Sources:
Bassman, Theda. Zuni Jewelry. West Chester, Pa.: Schiffer
Publishing, 1992, p. 28, 34, 55.
Bell, Ed and Barbara Bell. Zuni: The Art and the People, Volume 1.
Dallas, Tex.: Taylor Publishing Co., 1975, p. 22-23.
Chalker, Kari, "Dancing for Rain Under a Turquoise Sky: The Southwest,"in
Totems to Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts of the Northwest
and Southwest, Kari Chalker, ed. New York: Harry N. Abrams, in association
with The American Museum of Natural History, 2004, p. 141, 155.
Cirillo, Dexter. Southwestern Indian Jewelry. New York: Abbeville
Press, 1992, p. 93, 95 230-233.
Ellsberg, Helen. “Coral,” American Indian Art Magazine:
01 (Summer, 1976): p. 54.
Felicita Foundation for the Arts. Celebrate the Spirit: Contemporary
Native American Art. Escondido, Calif.: Felicita Foundation for the
Arts, 1985.
Hait, Pam. “Gold, Silver and a Touch of Forever.” Arizona
Highways 59 (April, 1979): 3, 6-7.
Indian Craft Shop. “It’s All Relative.” Indian Craft
Shop 13. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Interior, 1998.
Jones, Robert W. “The Arizona Highways Hall of Fame Classics.”
Arizona Highways 52 (October, 1976): 40-41.
Karaski, Carol. The Turquoise Trail: Native American Jewelry and Culture
of the Southwest. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1993, p. 133.
Ostler, James, Marian Rodee, Milford Najohai. Zuni: A Village of Silversmiths.
Zuni, N.Mex.: Zuni A:Shiwi Publishing, 1996, p. 70, 102-103.
Schaaf, Gregory. Native American Jewelry 1: 1200 Biographies. Santa
Fe, N.Mex.: CIAC Press, 2003, p. 144-145.
Schiffer, Nancy. Jewelry by Southwest American Indian: Evolving Designs.
West Chester, Pa.: Schiffer Publishing, 1990., p. 96, 101.
Stacey, Joseph. “The Arizona Highways Hall of Fame Classics.”
Arizona Highways. v. 50, no. 8 (Aug. 1974): 16, 29.
Tryk, Sheila. Santa Fe Indian Market: Showcase of Native American
Art. Santa Fe, N.Mex.: Tierra Publishers, 1993, p. 74, 79.
Wright, Barton. Hallmarks of the Southwest. Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer
Publishing, 2000, p. 62.
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