Description
Effie Calavaza (1927 – 2019) Zuni Sterling silver coral, turquoise belt buckle 3.25" x 2 1/8", fits up to a 1.5" belt, 68.9 grams.
Effie C. Calavaza (February 15, 1927 – 2019) was a Native American Zuni jewelry<br>artist.<br><br>Jewelry style<br>Calavaza started silversmithing in 1956 and learned the art from her husband,<br>Juan. Her signature style depicts snakes winding around large gemstones—most<br>commonly turquoise, coral, and onyx—set in sand cast silver pieces including<br>earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, watches, and belt buckles. Snakes are an<br>important symbol in Zuni healing and fertility rituals. Experts in Native<br>American art consider her an influential, prolific, and classic Zuni jewelry<br>artist and her work is carried in jewelry galleries around the world.<br><br>Personal life and death<br>Effie Calavaza was born in 1927 in Zuni, New Mexico as Effie Lankeseon, where<br>she lived her entire life. She married Juan Calavaza (1910–1970), also a jewelry<br>artist, who taught her the art. Until her husband's death in 1970, she signed<br>her own work with her husband's signature, "JUAN C.–ZUNI). Later, she signed her<br>work "EFFIE C.–ZUNI" in 1/16 Gothic print.<br>Calavaza had three daughters—Georgiana Yatsatti, Gloria Jean Garcia, and Susie<br>Calavaza. She continued to smith jewelry as well as supervise the jewelry work<br>of her daughters throughout her life.<br><br>Calavaza died in 2019
