Product Description
Two strand shell heishi necklace features fantastic turquoise tabs, heishi, spiny oyster shell tabs and six turquoise carvings by Zuni Pueblo master artist, Leekya Deyuse. Unusual and very wearable, this great necklace was purchased from the owners of the Overpass Trading Post that was at the exit to the Petrified Forest. The post closed in the early 1960’s. The post had been closed for 50 years before the items from the post were disbursed. It was purchased from the collection about 4 years ago.
Leekya Deyuse, one the most well known and finest fetish carvers in the history of Zuni was born in 1889. Leekya created beautiful fetish necklaces, carved animals (table fetishes) of assorted stones, turquoise figurines and fetishes set in jewelry. Leekya worked for C.G. Wallace, a well know and influential trader at Zuni for 50 years. He had 3 children, Frances, Alice and Sarah. Some of his grandchildren and great grandchildren carving today are Delvin, Freddie, and Hayes Leekya, Juana Homer, Patrick Homer and Bernard Homer, Jr. Old Man Leekya died in 1966.
