brooch
- Museum number
- 2010,2002.1
- Description
-
A brooch in the shape of a dragonfly in flight, made from sterling silver and inlaid with a form of turquoise known as Sonoran Sun Rise.
- Production date
- 2009-2010
- Dimensions
-
Length: 4.60 centimetres
-
Width: 6.20 centimetres
-
Depth: 0.30 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- The dragonfly, known as Tanilai in Navajo ( ‘is spread on water’), plays a role in the Navajo story of emergence, and is an indicator of fresh water. The resemblance of the dragonfly to the double-barred cross of the European missionaries made for the ready adoption of the cross amongst peoples of the Southwest during early contact.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 2010
- Acquisition notes
- Commissioned from the artist following his lecture "We Wear Our Wealth: Turquoise Cultural & Historical Context" at the December 2009 British Museum conference "Turquoise, Henry Christy and museum collections".
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- 2010,2002.1