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Leekya turquoise carved stone and nugget necklace, silver and black beads. [186289]

Currency:USD Category:American Indian Art / Art - Jewelry Start Price:650.00 USD Estimated At:1,300.00 - 2,800.00 USD
Leekya turquoise carved stone and nugget necklace, silver and black beads. [186289]
SOLD
750.00USD+ (187.50) buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2024 Sep 09 @ 17:29UTC-7 : PDT/MST
UNCLAIMED MERCHANDISE: In the event that a successful bidder has paid in full for their merchandise but fails to settle outstanding shipping invoices or make arrangements for merchandise pickup within 60 days, HWAC reserves the right to declare the merchandise forfeited. This forfeiture will result in the merchandise becoming the property of HWAC and the successful bidder shall have no claim to or rights over the forfeited merchandise.
Carved turquoise "leaf" or flattened spruce cone (3.5" long, 2" wide, 5/8" thick) made of turquoise with black matrix intertwined throughout flanked by about 14 turquoise nuggets on either side, separated by small elongated black stone beads, finished with six elongated silver beads joined by a small silver connector at the neck. No maker mark, as typical of carved pieces. This piece is a departure in style from others in this sale because of the silver and black beads. The leaf is also a bit smaller.

This piece is in the style of famous turquoise carver Leekya Deyusekya (1889-1966). Leekya had a life changing experience when he participated in the archaeological dig at Hawikuh Pueblo about 12 miles southwest of Zuni from 1917-1923. During the excavations, a number of stone carvings were uncovered, exciting Leekya's imagination. About 1920 he began carving his own, generally using Navajo silver mounts varying in nature and style. Later still he began using a symbol as a signature of his work. The Hawikuh site becomes very important in the Zuni culture of old and new. The site dates to before the arrival of the Coronado expedition of 1540. Coronado thought Hawikuh was Cibola, one of the mystical "seven cities of gold." Coronado wrote of the turquoise, but was in a quandary on the lack of gold.

With the knowledge of this strong history of turquoise stone carving, Leekya set out to make his own in honor of his ancestors.

Leekya's family continued in his style of work. Many of the Leekya family became very creative in making certain styles of carving their own. Some of Leekya's children became stone carvers, and now the third generation has carried on the family tradition. Of particular interest is that the family uses turquoise of a very specific color pattern that comes from a family owned property, now sometimes called "Leekya rock", which is identical to the turquoise of this lot. Examples can be seen on the Albuquerque Indian Museum page within the ATADA site from their 2017 exhibition, as well as other sites for Robert Leekya's work and more.

An excellent short biography of the family can be found online by Daisy Menifee.

This piece may have been made by a member of the Leekya family, as it encompasses not only a carved leaf, but the bold use of turquoise nuggets. It was purchased by Frank Lewton in the 1970s, as were the several other nugget and figural pieces made of Leekya rock in this sale.` [] [] [] [] []