NIK DeGRAZIA 80s Sweet Girl Braids Feather; and 22 similar items

This sweet dark-haired girl is wearing a deep pink dress with a white smock top and her head wreathed with colorful flowers - she will bring a smile to anyone’s face. Her face is flushed, she has black eyes, long hair in double braids sporting a white yellow feather; she is painted by hand on a slice of faux elk horn made of resin and signed N DeGrazia at an angle. I like the bird and bead style of clasp – could be shortened if the knot on the bead were pulled shorter and a knot tied – gives it a lot of flexibility in length. It hangs from a 27” soft, supple, sueded leather tether that sports bulls-eye carved medium brown and plain round darker wood beads between the eight, plastic dove “fetish” beads in deep pink with hand painted floral details on their sides and a white ring around their throats. The pendant is approximately 2 ” x 1 5/8” and bears a sticker on the back reading: “HAND PAINTED REPRODUCTIONS Authorized by Nik DeGrazia Tucson, Arizona” Overall, it is in excellent vintage condition. NOTE: This jewelry line was largely executed as a “cottage craft” where “crafters” painted, and assembled the line of jewelry intended for the tourist, casual collector of his art. This accounts for some variation of designs from 8-12 squash blossom necklaces; number of “birds” in faux fetish-style necklaces; how the tethers are attached to the central pendants; colors of the suede leather tether; closures – or not; earrings of different findings, etc. The artist is Ettore "Ted" De Grazia. DeGrazia was of Italian ancestry, arrived in Arizona before it became a state. He is known for his colorful images of Native American children of the American Southwest and other Western scenes. As with many talented artists, he painted, sculpted, composed, acted, directed, designed clothing, did architecture, jewelry, and lithographer… pretty sure those are only the tip of the iceberg, too! He was born in 1909 and died in 1982. He employed his children in his shop – in Nik’s case as a painter who continued for years after his father’s death. BTW, 10% of every sale goes to World Vision to help improve the lives of impoverished communities. Tucson Artist, Flower Child, Artisan Crafted, Ted De Grazia, Artist Signed, Signed Marked, Wearable Art, 1960s 60s 1970s 70s, Floral Daisies, Hand Painted Faux Horn, Carved Wooden Beads, Suede Leather Tether, Pink Molded Plastic Birds ACSA