Petit Point or Needlepoint?

Native American Jewelry and Artifact Information
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Petit Point or Needle Point ?

There are two similar Zuni techniques of using very small pieces of stone to decorate a piece and they are often confused.

Petit Point is usually comprised of long , narrow teardrop-shaped stones, like the Sun God pendant and earrings at right.

Needle Point is comprised of straight, long, narrow stones that are pointed on both ends, like the pendant and bracelet set below.

Usually if it is not needlepoint and it is a group of small stones of the same shape and size, it is called petit point.

Note: The God’s Eye (above), often at the center of the Sunface, is traditionally made of turquoise, jet, Mother of Pearl, and coral. It represents the all-seeing.