North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Spirit of the West: Premier March Native American & Western Auction

Sat, Mar 14, 2026 11:00AM EDT
  2026-03-14 11:00:00 2026-03-14 11:00:00 America/New_York North American Auction Company North American Auction Company : Spirit of the West: Premier March Native American & Western Auction https://live.naabid.com/auctions/north-american-auction/spirit-of-the-west-premier-march-native-american-western-auction-22645
Join North American Auction Company on March 14th for our Spirit of the West: Premier Collector Native American & Western Auction. This is a wonderful collection of items including pieces from the C.M. Russell Museum Kleinschmidt, Bruce VanLandingham Sundog, Rockefeller, and other collections of items including Native American Beadwork and Weapons, Western History, D.F. Barry Photographs, along with the largest collection of Winold Reiss Calendars and Ephemera, fine Navajo Jewelry, American, and Luxury Jewelry. Visit Live.Naabid.com for more details or call 800-686-4216.
North American Auction Company tucker@naabid.com
Lot 551

Zuni Morris & Sadie Laate Sunface Inlay Watch Band

Estimate: $600 - $900
Starting Bid
$200

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
For your consideration is this Zuni Morris & Sadie Laahte Sunface Multi-Stone Inlay Watch Band, circa 1960s to 1980s. The watchband features a wonderfully and professionally crafted sterling silver and intricate multistone Sunface inlay with Mother of Pearl, Sleeping Beauty turquoise, Ox Blood coral and Jet stones displaying very fine lapidary craftmanship. Sadie and Morris Laahte are a renowned husband-and-wife team of Zuni Pueblo artists, recognized for their high-quality, precise channel and mosaic inlay jewelry. Active since the 1970s, they are best known for creating intricate, multi-stone, and shell inlay designs, particularly the Zuni Sunface motif. The Zuni Sunface is a significant symbol representing the sacred Sun Father, vital for the Zuni people's crops and daily life, depicted with a round face, rectangular eyes, a circular mouth, and radiating feathers, often with a forehead split in half (e.g., turquoise/coral) to symbolize sunrise/sunset or individuality within family. It signifies the sun's power to sustain life, bring joy, and represents the continuity of day and night, a core belief in Zuni culture. Zuni inlay jewelry history began with ancient lapidary traditions, evolving from shell/stone carving to incorporating silver in the late 1800s, heavily influenced by traders and Navajo techniques; by the early 1900s, Zuni artisans developed distinct styles like channel inlay, using tiny, precisely cut stones (turquoise, jet, coral) set into silver to create vibrant mosaic patterns. Mastery of turquoise, jet, shell, and coral allowed for vibrant color combinations and storytelling designs. The artist's "sunface" hallmark is stamped on the reverse . This beautiful watch band shows good condition overall with no signs of damage. Also included is a Legacy quartz watch. Measures 2.75" diameter, collective weight is 30.6 grams.

After you have succeessfully completed your purchase, including payment of your item, the shipping process will begin. Our company has partnered with a few local third party shipping vendors. Shipping will be handled between these third party business and the buyer. Auction company is not responsible for shipment or any duties there-in unless stated below. Firearms will be shipped by our company. Once you invoice has been paid for contact Mark at 800-686-4216 ext. 3 for shipping infomation on firearms. After your invoice has been paid one of the below third party shippers will pickup your items. Once these companies have created a shipping quote for you they will contract you using the contact information you have provided on your auction registration. Make sure to include the shipping address and correct contact information for a success shipping experience. For questions on shipping please contract the companies below or JoEllen at 800-686-4216 ext. 1 For shipping quotes please contract the companies below: "The UPS Store” #2420 1106 W Park St, Livingston, MT 59047 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 6:00pm Saturday, 10:00am - 3:00pm Sunday, CLOSED Phone: 406-222-4971 Fax: 406-222-9257 Email: store2420@theupsstore.com Postal Annex 280 West Kagy Boulevard D, Bozeman, MT 59715 Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 6:00pm Saturday, 10:00am - 3:00pm Sunday, CLOSED Phone: 406-219-2210 Fax: 406-219-2209 Email: pa14012@postalannex.com