Bracelet c. 1940s

This bracelet was crafted by the A'shiwi, or Zuni people, and is now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The composition of turquoise and silver creates a complex and visually striking effect. Look at the linear arrangement of turquoise stones set within silver, which imposes a grid-like structure on the bracelet's form. The repetition of these elements generates a rhythm, a pattern that speaks to structuralist principles of seriality. The turquoise, with its vibrant blue-green hue, contrasts against the cool, metallic silver, creating a play of color that is both visually appealing and culturally significant. The careful arrangement of stones within the matrix of silver is not merely decorative, but signifies something deeper. Note how the texture and materiality of the bracelet invite interpretation and discourse. Does the structure of the object reflect ideas about order? In its formal structure, it becomes a site of ongoing interpretation.