Effie Calavaza is a Native American jewelry artist from the Zuni Pueblo. She specializes in sand casting and incorporates stones and her snake designs into her pieces. In 1956 her husband, the late Juan Calavaza, taught her how to make jewelry. She incorporates both her husband’s and her own designs into her work. Her pieces are stamped EFFIE C. ZUNI. This is the family hallmark used by Effie and some of her daughters. Effie has had many imitators and even had to go to the Supreme Court to gain copyright protection of her work and design. Despite many rumors, Effie is still making jewelry to this day and her work is collected throughout the world.
