Mitchell
Zephier, Lakota - German
Silver | ||||||||||
Paula says - "This brilliant inlay overlay Lakota buckle features a bison skull in the center being held by a stylized eagle. On the left is a sacred catlinite pipe (chanupa) and above the skull is a scarab. Eagle talons coming down the sides are alabaster."
Eagle with stars.
Skull with blue sky inlay of lapis, green field of malachite and skull details of red and black pipestone. Scarab above the skull.
Fits up to a 1 1/4" belt. | Mitchell
Zephier, Lakota NBU237
- $450 plus s/h | |||||||||
Sacred pipe, chanupa, of red pipestone. | ||||||||||
ABOUT GERMAN SILVERNickel silver, also called German silver, is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel, but contains no silver. Navajos occasionally used it in place of coin silver and sterling silver, usually in earlier work. This alloy is very hard and does not tarnish like sterling silver and costs much less. Nickel silver was sold in flat sheets and the Navajo originally obtained this metal from their neighbors, the Utes, who worked it in the plains style of metalwork. Mostly tribes of the plains, prairies, and Great Lakes areas worked in nickel silver. Read more about stones. |
Mitchell Charles Zephier Mitchell Zephier grew up on the Cheyenne River and Rosebud Indian reservations. After marrying on Roxanne Apple Rosebud he gave re-birth to Plains Indian Jewelry, particularly Lakota metal adornment. He has mentored over 34 apprentices in the arts of metal-smithing and marketing.
Mitch has other forms of artistic expression. His album Cherish the Children won a National Native Music Award for Best Children's Album. Mitchell Zephier's latest venture is to team up with fellow artists to explore, on film this time, the issues that affect the lives of Native Young People in Cloud Horse Production's Lakota 4 Life, a Zephier inspired look at the issues, decisions, responsibilities and opportunities facing Native Youth today. Other family members and friends that work on the jewelry include his son Wakinyan Luta Zephier , Belle Starboy, Webster Two Hawk Jr., and Roger Dale Herron. |
Mitch
collaborates with fellow Lakota artists. Mitch has won numerous awards including
first place at Red Earth Show, several awards at the internationally prestigious
Sante Fe Indian Market as well as presented his work at far off Native American
venues like Schimutzun Celebration in Connecticut. He has also earned the South
Dakota Governor's award.