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🤍 VINTAGE ZUNI STERLING SILVER & MOTHER-OF-PEARL FISH-SCALE BROOCH — ATTRIBUTED TO ALICE LEEKYA HOMER (1923–1988) — NANCY ELBY COLLECTION 🤍
❤️PRICED TO SELL FAST❤️
An exceptional vintage sterling silver and mother-of-pearl fish-scale inlay brooch, attributed to celebrated Zuni artist Alice Leekya Homer (1923–1988), featuring extraordinary handmade craftsmanship, a deeply domed profile, and unusually substantial silver construction.
Measuring approximately 1.848 inches in diameter and weighing an impressive 26.57 grams, this beautiful brooch possesses remarkable substance for its size.
Its entire face is composed of individually shaped sections of natural mother-of-pearl arranged in an intricate, flowing mosaic of overlapping curves. Depending upon the light, the shell reveals luminous shades of white, cream, blush pink, lavender, icy blue, subtle green, and extraordinary flashes of natural rainbow iridescence.
This brooch is unsigned. I attribute it to Alice Leekya Homer based upon my firsthand collecting experience, distinctive stylistic and construction characteristics, and comparisons with signed and attributed examples of her work. It has not been independently ATTRIBUTED TO ALICE LEEKYA HOMER — ZUNI (1923–1988)
Alice Leekya Homer was an accomplished Zuni artist and daughter of the celebrated Leekya Deyuse (1889–1966), whose family became widely recognized for its contributions to twentieth-century Zuni jewelry, carving, and inlay traditions.
Alice’s work included intricate channel-inlay jewelry incorporating mother-of-pearl, turquoise, and other materials, frequently arranged in the flowing, overlapping technique commonly known as fish-scale inlay.
WHY I ATTRIBUTE THIS BROOCH TO ALICE LEEKYA HOMER
I have collected, studied, bought, and sold Native American jewelry for approximately two decades and have personally owned numerous examples of Alice Leekya Homer’s work.
When I first encountered this brooch, I immediately recognized characteristics strongly reminiscent of her distinctive workmanship.
My initial attribution was based on that firsthand familiarity, rather than on an identification suggested by an online listing.
I subsequently undertook additional comparative research, examining signed and attributed examples of her jewelry.
Several characteristics particularly support my attribution:
• Distinctive fish-scale geometry: Broad, individually shaped mother-of-pearl sections with sweeping curved edges, tapered ends, and pointed intersections.
• Flowing, asymmetrical composition: An intricate arrangement of overlapping shell sections creating a continuous, almost woven appearance rather than mechanically repeated rows.
• Substantial silver construction: A pronounced silver perimeter, deeply domed profile, and unusually solid construction relative to the brooch’s dimensions.
• Traditional channel-inlay fabrication: Carefully shaped sections of natural shell fitted within narrow silver boundaries, with subtle variations reflecting individual hand fabrication.
• Recognizable artistic characteristics: The overall geometry, arrangement, workmanship, and substantial construction exhibit meaningful similarities to examples of Alice Leekya Homer’s jewelry that I have personally handled and studied.
I find the combination of these characteristics particularly compelling.
IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTION DISCLOSURE
This brooch is unsigned and has not been professionally authenticated as the work of Alice Leekya Homer.
Fish-scale channel inlay was practiced by multiple Zuni artists, including members of the Leekya family. Similarities in design and construction do not independently establish the identity of an individual maker.
I am therefore offering this piece as attributed to Alice Leekya Homer, based upon my collecting experience and comparative research, rather than representing it as a conclusively authenticated or signed FROM THE NANCY ELBY COLLECTION
This extraordinary brooch also has a fascinating Southwestern collecting history.
I acquired it from an individual in Phoenix, Arizona, who had obtained it from the late Nancy Elby.
Nancy Elby was a longtime participant in the Southwestern, American Indian art, and Western antiques collecting community.
She exhibited under the name “The Good Stuff” at the High Noon Western Americana show and was also associated with the prestigious Whitehawk Antique Indian & Ethnographic Art Show in Santa Fe.
Its reported ownership history is:
Nancy Elby → Phoenix collector → Myself
This collection provenance adds an interesting dimension to the brooch’s history, although it does not independently establish its maker or precise EXCEPTIONAL MOTHER-OF-PEARL FISH-SCALE INLAY
The beauty of this brooch lies in the remarkable interaction between its individually shaped shell sections and carefully formed silver channels.
Rather than employing simple, uniformly shaped segments, the artist created an elaborate arrangement of sweeping curves, tapered points, and overlapping forms.
The individual sections flow into one another, producing a beautifully balanced yet organic composition across the deeply domed face.
The natural mother-of-pearl displays a particularly attractive range of iridescent colors.
Depending on the angle and lighting, the shell transitions between soft white, warm cream, pale pink, lavender, cool blue, subtle green, and occasional rainbow flashes.
No two viewing angles produce precisely the same appearance.
The silver channels remain clearly defined, giving the intricate mosaic structure, depth, and visual movement.
This is a particularly compelling example of the artistic possibilities of traditional fish-scale REMARKABLY SUBSTANTIAL — 26.57 GRAMS
One of the brooch’s most impressive characteristics is its weight.
At approximately 46.95 mm / 1.848 inches in diameter, it weighs a substantial 26.57 grams / 0.937 ounces.
Its deeply domed profile, pronounced silver perimeter, and broad silver backplate contribute to an unusually solid feel.
The impressive weight is an important physical characteristic and complements the substantial workmanship that first attracted my attention.
This is a brooch whose craftsmanship and physical presence are difficult to fully appreciate through photographs STERLING SILVER — JSP SCRATCH-STONE TESTED
The brooch is unmarked; however, I personally performed a JSP silver scratch-stone acid test, which produced a strong reaction consistent with sterling silver.
A small metal streak was transferred from an inconspicuous area of the brooch onto a JSP testing stone.
Silver-testing acid was then applied exclusively to the transferred metal streak on the stone.
No acid touched the brooch at any time.
Upon contact with the testing solution, the transferred metal produced an immediate blood-red reaction.
The reaction remained blood red throughout the entire five-minute period I observed it before discarding the test.
Based upon this immediate and persistent JSP scratch-stone test reaction, I am identifying the brooch as sterling silver.
The brooch has not been professionally XRF or laboratory tested. My sterling identification is based upon the JSP testing procedure described MEASUREMENTS & WEIGHT
• Diameter: approximately 46.95 mm / 1.848 inches
• Total weight: 26.57 grams / 0.937 ounces
• Form: Circular, deeply domed brooch
• Inlay: Natural mother-of-pearl fish-scale channel inlay
• Metal: Silver, JSP scratch-stone tested with a reaction consistent with sterling
• Markings: Unsigned / unmarked
• Pin assembly: Traditional hinged pin stem and functional safety catch
A vintage 1934 Mercury dime is included in selected photographs as a familiar reference for scale only.
The dime is not included in the sale.
All measurements are CONDITION — EXCELLENT VINTAGE PRESERVATION
Excellent vintage pre-owned condition, particularly impressive for a handmade piece of this complexity.
The mother-of-pearl remains beautifully lustrous and securely fitted, with no observed missing, loose, or visibly chipped inlay sections.
The natural iridescence remains exceptionally attractive, revealing subtle changes in color and depth under different lighting conditions.
Fine linear marks visible under extreme magnification are consistent with the original hand-cutting, filing, and finishing of the mother-of-pearl.
Small variations in fitting, occasional narrow spaces along the channels, and minor irregularities at some silver intersections reflect the handmade character of the construction.
These details are visible in the macro photographs and are disclosed rather than concealed.
The silver retains an attractive natural luster with very mild patina and fine surface and fabrication marks consistent with age and careful handling.
The reverse is exceptionally clean for a vintage brooch.
The long pin stem remains straight and sharp, while the hinge and safety catch open, close, and secure impeccably.
Overall, the brooch appears to have been carefully cherished throughout its life.
Please examine all photographs carefully, including the extreme close-ups, as they form an important part of the condition PHOTOGRAPHY & NATURAL COLOR
All photographs were taken outdoors between approximately 5–6 PM under sunny skies, primarily in open shade and from different viewing angles.
Mother-of-pearl is naturally responsive to changing light. Its colors may shift considerably depending on the angle of illumination and observation.
The same shell section may appear white in one photograph, pink or lavender in another, and pale blue or green in a third.
Extreme macro photography greatly magnifies original filing marks, tiny fitting irregularities, and subtle surface characteristics that are far less apparent to the unaided eye.
Color, contrast, saturation, and brightness may also vary according to individual device and screen settings.
The colors of the brooch and mother-of-pearl have not been digitally altered in any way.
Additional photographs or video are gladly available upon SHIPPING
• Ships same or next business day
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• Fully insured with tracking
• Carefully and securely packaged
• Ships in a sturdy cardboard box — never a bubble INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
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All serious offers considered.
All sales are final unless the item has been grossly A REMARKABLE PIECE FOR THE DISCERNING COLLECTOR 🤍
Exceptional workmanship. Extraordinary natural mother-of-pearl. Substantial silver construction. A fascinating Southwestern collecting history. And a carefully considered attribution to Alice Leekya Homer.
This beautifully preserved brooch brings together the qualities that make vintage Zuni fish-scale inlay so compelling: painstakingly shaped natural materials, flowing geometric artistry, traditional silver fabrication, and an unmistakably handmade character.
Its unusually substantial 26.57-gram construction and luminous domed surface make it a remarkable piece in its own right.
My stylistic attribution to Alice Leekya Homer, informed by years of collecting experience and comparisons with examples of her work, adds another fascinating dimension for serious collectors and researchers.
From the Nancy Elby collection, this is a brooch worthy of thoughtful appreciation, careful preservation, and a place in a discerning collection. 🤍🪶
