Zuni attr. CHESTER MAHOOTY Apache Gahn Dancer Bolo Mosaic Inlay "Book Piece"

Description

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This is a rare and fine example of a very early inlaid Apache Gan Dancer bolo, also referred to as a Mountain Spirit Dancer and Crown Dancer. He has a paunch, which gives him genuine personality as well as realism. He carries wands and leaves for his dance ceremony and wears a skirt of a rare material. The raised inlay is especially gorgeous. The attribution is to Chester Mahooty who was a famous dancer and silversmith.
This piece is probably one of his earlier pieces, dating to the 1940s, is inlaid in a rare quality of mother of pearl shell that has rivers of luminous color running through it, very opalescent! The plaque with the inlay is set in a scalloped bezel setting and framed in a gorgeous, elaborate, heavy foliate silver frame.  So lovely!
The piece originally had wires on the back to hold the leather tie but it was converted to a Bennett from the late 50's to the 60's.
It was made for internal use in the tribe and then owned by the owner of a shop in Arizona, where Native American art was sold. The owner kept this one when she retired and when she died the piece went to a daughter in law who kept it for 25 years and finally let it go a few years ago. It was considered worthy of the private collection of the store owner and was also prized by her daughter in law.  I, too, prize it, and I think you will, too. The coral is a deep dark rich red, the turquoise is also a strong color. There is jet and mother of pearl and a another natural stone as well. The colors are strong, primary, bright.
The back cover of the October 1976 issue of Arizona Highways has many old pieces of jewelry depicted, including an almost identical example of this bolo in near central position. The artist isn't identified, although we can see other great artists included, like Ted Edaakie. I've attached a copy of that back cover to this listing as the last photo above; I believe the same artist made the one depicted there as made mine. Also, Arizona Highways  August 1959 has a picture of Chester Mahooty on the inside back cover, at his workbench, showing several of his pieces. The whole page is devoted to him.
The bolo measures 2-1/16" (5.24 cm) high x 1-3/4" (4.45 cm) wide, and the tips measure 2-3/8" (6.03 cm) high and they are fabulous. The tie is still supple and in wearable condition. It measures 40" (101.60 cm) end to end, including the tips. Overall the piece is in excellent vintage condition and just had more than its share of dirt on it. I wiped off enough with my fingers to be able to get pictures of the beautiful inlay, but of course, did not touch the natural patina. It's not signed for silver content and I'll guarantee it's at least coin silver. It is not signed by the artist. This form has been used by more contemporary artists, who worked from the 1950s and later but this is definitely not their work. Could he be the most lovable Gahn Dancer you've ever seen? What personality!
Chester Mahooty  (Zuni name, Laytiwah) was born on August 10, 1928 in Zuni. He was a member of the badger clan, a tribal councilman, and a member of the clown and medicine fraternities. Mahooty was an internationally known soloist and a Zuni Master Silversmith. He was a participant of the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial for 35 years and at Ganondagon New York State Seneca Indian Site for the past 10 years. Mahooty served on the Zuni Tribal Council for four years, was a member of the Medicine Society and belonged to the Galaxy Fraternity. Mahooty was an internationally known soloist and a Zuni Master Silversmith. He was a participant of the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial for 35 years and at Ganondagon New York State Seneca Indian Site for more than 10 years. Mahooty served on the Zuni Tribal Council for four years, was a member of the Medicine Society and belonged to the Galaxy Fraternity. For 28 years, Mahooty's Zuni Rainbow Dancers toured throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. His vast knowledge of songs, drum, and Pow Wow and Zuni dances led to an invitation to join the American Indian Dance Theatre in 1987. Mahooty served as a Zuni Pueblo tribal councilman and testified for the Religious Freedom Act, which in 1978 assured Native Americans the right to practice their religious and cultural traditions. A master silversmith, Mahooty is noted for his exceptionally large turquoise jewelry and wore 65 pounds of turquoise and silver when fully dressed in his Zuni attire. Mahooty moved to the Rochester area in 1993, where he continued to teach Zuni songs and dances. He died in 2004, I'm so sorry to say, at the age of 75.
This is a great quality piece. Any museum would be thrilled to have it. It's a collector's item and it's strikingly handsome to wear. You will love this chubby little Santa dancer and I assume he represents Chester Mahotty himself. This is the best one I've seen and it's very much like the one in the October 1976 issue of Arizona Highways which you can see above. It's an honor to have this and to be connected to the details of the artist's life.
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