Nancy and Ruddell Laconsello

Zuni

The well-known and acclaimed Zuni husband and wife team of Nancy and Ruddell Laconsello have been making jewelry together since they were married in 1976. Their amazing jewelry shows stunning mosaic inlay displayed in very unique and signature patterns. Nancy comes from a Zuni family of silversmiths who are considered some of the most elite Zuni artists of all time! Her father was Jack Haloo (d) and her sister is Dolly Banteah.

Their inlay style, sometimes referred to as overlay with inlaid settings, involves a technique like the overlay process, in that designs are cut out of one sheet of silver, which is soldered to another. Stones are set into the open areas to form the colorful inlay designs.

Nancy does all the inlay work; Ruddell crafts the silver work, polishing and the etching of the fine lines that give the inlaid materials added definition.