Description
Huge Lupe Iule San Felipe Pueblo cast sterling and turquoise cross pendant, very substantial, one stone with fracture... All stones secure in bezels.. Weight and measurements in pics.
Lupe Iule (1916-?)
Lupe Iule was born at San Felipe Pueblo and is the wife of Horace Iule who was her mentor. Her favorite designs are crosses. She was an active jeweler between 1937-1975.
Horace Iule (1901-1978) was a Zuni artist who made a wide variety of sterling silver and stone pieces, most notably traditional Zuni crosses.
Horace worked with his wife Lupe Iule, who was from San Felipe Pueblo. They were married in 1933, and had six children: Ruby, Lupe, Cecilia, Robert, Barney, and Phillip. Cecilia continues in her fathers tradition with the crosses.
Cecilia creates her crosses from tiny to huge and uses coral, turquoise, and other gem stones.
Horace Iule was taught silversmithing by his father. He made sand-cast items and then embellished them with hammering and die stamping. His children use some of his original casting equipment to continue the Iule cross legacy.
