The 1904 Zuni Collection

This collection from 1904 features beautiful images of religious ceremonies, costume, art, and life of the Zuni people of New Mexico in 1901 and 1902. Vibrant lithographs of ceremonial masks are the jewels of this portfolio with their bold colors and patterns. A wonderful glimpse into Zuni life at the turn of the century. 

The Zuni people call themselves “A:shiwi” which translates to “the flesh,” and their land is called “Shi:wona,” meaning “the land that produces flesh.” Spanish conquistadors believed that Shi:wona was one of the famed Seven Cities of Cibola-- said to be filled with riches and gold-- and so, in 1540, an expedition led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado sought out to the Zuni land. The first ever battle between Europeans and Native Americans was held in Zuni upon his arrival, and the Spaniards defeated the people there. Coronado stayed for three months until continuing eastward. The Zuni Reservation today encompasses only about three percent of the original ancestral grounds, but the Zuni people still preserve their culture and celebrate several festivals yearly.

This beautiful collection offers a glimpse into the history of the tribe, and provides gorgeous lithographs of ceremonial attire, and prints of sacred shrines and mesas.