Zuni | Artist Virgil & Shirley Benn | Wolf Head Inlay Bolo Tie | Sterling Silver

A Bit About The Piece:

Intricately inlaid and carved Zuni Wolf Head bolo with natural stones in sterling silver. Artists signature, Virgil and Shirley Benn, engraved on back.

Details, details...

The Stones: Mother of Pearl and Jet

Wolf Head: 

• 9 pieces of Mother of Pearl 
• 6 pieces of Jet

The Piece: Handmade Stone Inlay Bolo Tie

• .925 sterling silver, solid (bolo and rope caps)
• "V & S Benn" engraved on back
• steel slide on back
• leatherette braided cord
• length of cord including ends: 38 inches (19" hanging length in photo)
• bolo dimensions: 50.01mm (1.96") length x 86.86mm (3.41") x 4.26mm (0.16") thick
• total weight including cord: 59.17 grams

About The Artists

Husband and wife team, Virgil (b. 1935) and Shirley (b. 1936) Benn collaborate to create Zuni-style inlay jewelry. Virgil is of Zuni and Paiute heritage, while Shirley is of Hopi-Tewa decent and is the great-granddaughter of the famous Hopi potter, Nampeyo. 
Virgil and Shirley Benn have received several major awards for their creations and they are listed in Barton Wright's book, Hallmarks of the Southwest. Virgil and Shirley Benn are famous for their use of silver and semi-precious stones to create lifelike images of animals and Native American figures in their Zuni jewelry.

Wear Report

Bolo polish shows light wear with some very faint surface scratches and a few tiny chips may be present. Please see photos.