Nancy and Ruddell Laconsello are known for their beautiful Zuni inlay jewelry predominately birds.
Nancy Haloo, born in 1952, learned jewelry making from her father Jake Haloo. She began making her own style of inlay in 1972.
Nancy Haloo Laconsello
She married Ruddell Laconsello and they began making jewelry together in 1976.
Nancy and Ruddell Laconsello
They are a successful husband and wife team who follow the tradition of Nancy’s parents, Jake Haloo and Lola Pinto Haloo, in their division of duties. Ruddell does the stone cutting, grinding, carving and polishing while Nancy does the inlay work.
Nancy and Ruddell Laconsello
Nancy and Ruddell’s work is characterized by birds in natural settings, such as on trees or with flowers or leaves.
Blue Jay pendant necklace by Ruddell and Nancy Laconsello
They also are known for the engraving they add to their mosaics which gives rich texture and detail to the image.
Engraved detail on vintage Laconsello eagle ring
Nancy’s family is full of noted jewelers including Dolly Banteah, Rolanda Haloo, Lolita Natachu, Jake Livingston and others.
Ruddell and Nancy use variations of their hallmark RNL ZUNI on their pieces.
RNL ZUNI hallmark of Ruddell and Nancy Laconsello
Vintage Laconsello ring
Paula
Native American Jewelry Tips 
It is too bad they do not do custom work….it is very difficult getting the mailing address, email address, or any contact for any Native American artist. And the dealers who sell their works, will never give contact information to you. The best luck that I have had is in Santa Fe, under “the portal,” where you can actually talk to individual artists. You might, (and I say “might”) be able to have an artist make something for you with the details that you want in a piece. Other than that….forget it!
Hi Doug,
Yes what you say is true and for various reasons. First of all, many do not have e-mail or internet connections so the only way to contact them would via phone or regular mail, both of which are kind of hard to get to know someone and to place a custom order. That’s why we do the vast majority of our shopping in person once or twice a year. We don’t even have contact info on most of the artists we purchase from. It is the way the business has been and is…..in person, hand to hand, often cash…………We’ve placed about a dozen custom orders over the last 10-15 years and every time, the completed items, although nice, are not quite what was ordered, so we have found it is much better to see what is made already and choose from those………….Paula
Paula, I’ll agree totally with you! People don’t understand the ways of dealing with Native artist. It isn’t like dealing with normal small businesses or companies especially when it comes to custom orders. On top of the couple reasons you gave (no internet or phone, some still don’t have electricity and indoor plumbing) Most of the Native artist still do business the same as it was done in the early to mid 1900’s or before. They do have cars/trucks instead of horse and wagon now. They come to town on Saturday, go from store to store to sell what they had made during the week, buy more craft supplies, groceries, and whatever else they may need then go back home and you don’t see them until they either have more art to sell or need more groceries. The Navajo Nation is a big area and you just don’t drive into town whenever you feel the need. I recent ordered a dozen men’s simple cast rings wanting white buffalo stones mounted to them. I expressed I didn’t want howlite numerous times. Guess what I received in the mail? Yep, cast rings with howlite. Fortunately, I deal with the artist on a steady basis and didn’t have any money down or payment up front and sent them back, but for someone that would want to order a single custom order, they would have got over priced howlite rings.
Yes, and from their viewpoint, they invest or put on credit at the suppliers the cost of the materials and so they want (need) a fast turnaround on their material investment and that’s why they would rather sell today to someone in person than ship something off in the mail.
We’ve given an artist a piece we bought from them a few years ago and asked if they could make us a dozen and what we get back is baffling – totally different, different materials, size……..quality………that’s why when we see something we like we buy a dozen or more because next time, either they won’t be available or they will be different. It is definitely not the normal business model. It keeps my interest though as things are never the same !
We must deal with the same people! LOL
I have a pair of earrings signed N R Zuni. A piece fell out and I would love to have repaired by them. I’ve worn them for years and miss wearing them. Is it possible for me to contact them through you? Thanks, Loretta Stamps
We don’t do repairs here
I have a RLN ZUNI with a Finch bird. I cannot find another one on any page or site