Rare Zuni attr. Leekya Deyuse Carved Bear Necklace 30" long 15 Carvings 1930s

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Rare Zuni attr. Leekya Deyuse Carved Bear Necklace 30" long 15 Carvings 1930s:
$17500.00

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WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT IT: Leekya Deyuse was considered the greatest Zuni carver of all time. The bear form is one of his classic carvings and I guarantee that he is the carver. This necklace is chillingly gorgeous! It is strung on the original cord with heishi and turquoise nuggets strung between each of the bear carvings on a 30" long necklace. There are fifteen Leekya Deyuse bear carvings on the necklace with the largest being the central pendants. All the carvings are by Leekya Deyuse; this necklace isn't diluted with work by other carvers. It's a once in a lifetime find. The larger bears are 1-1/4" long, and the smallest is 13/16" long. It comes from a private collection and it is one of the great treasures in Zuni history.

It's a completely wonderful necklace which I'd wear every day -- his carvings have life. I find his work to always be breathtaking and the most collectible of all. It's not something from which I wish to part and I believe you won't want to, either!

BACKGROUND: Leekya Deyuse was the greatest carver in Zuni history who worked for C. G. Wallace and is well represented in the C. G. Wallace Sotheby's catalog. He was vastly talented. He was most known for his fetishes. Truly a great master, his work commands top prices and is in the best museums and galleries. It is so hard to find his authentic work. It's not like you'll have a lot of other opportunities to have one of his authentic pieces, and if you do, I'd recommend collecting them all. They all have a powerful spirit. This is a museum quality piece. He is one of the most important Zuni artists from the CG Wallace period and his naturalistic free form style of work has become one of the hallmarks of that era.

CONDITION: The carvings are in excellent condition. I see nothing on the necklace that endangers the integrity of the piece. One foot is supposed to have a chip but I can't find it.

MEASUREMENTS:

• central carvings 1-1/4" W

• length end to end is 30".

• there are 15 bear carvings

• weight 68.70grams

• unsigned but the attribution is with high confidence and guaranteed to be Leekya Deyuse

SUMMARY: This necklace is a great unique masterpiece carved bear necklace by Leekya Deyuse strung on heishe and each carving is separated with a turquoise nugget. The absolute best necklace for anyone to wear and collect. There is a limited amount of his work available in the world and I personally think they will always have increasing value. The soft colorations are elegant and the design simple. The carvings are fabulous and have life as his carvings always do. You can never do better than this. It is the ultimate in collectibles.

RED TAPE:

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I'm no longer accepting returns having refunded $1350 for a bracelet I never received back. If I make a significant mistake in a listing I'll always give you a full refund.Returns must be in the same condition they were shipped. My attributions are guaranteed for my lifetime.

on When I include pages from published books in my listings it is in accordance with Fair Use Law, which permits the use of source material for discussion, reference, education and criticism.

Attributions on many of the old pieces of Native American jewelry are sometimes a moving target. All the books have errors, so in addition to counterchecking, I have developed some expertise over the years and I do care about getting it right, so as more information comes to light I update my listings and also get in touch with my previous buyers, to inform them of any changes in attributions. I am sincerely committed to ongoing accuracy.

Everything I sell comes from my personal collection or is something that I would include in my personal collection. Most pieces are museum worthy and gallery suitable, sold to you at great pricing. I vet every item carefully for quality and condition, and offer you the best. I want you to be able to rely on me for top quality, superb items that are often unique and rare examples of old antique vintage southwest, indian, native american and fine gold and gemstones, whether you're starting a collection or adding to one, or want something great to wear or gift. My goal is that all my buyers are delighted, that my special pieces find the right homes.