 Hi, my name is Ziggy. I run a gallery called Two Star Trading in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am just learning about antique American Indian art, Mexican tourist pottery, Southwestern pottery, Navajo textiles, California baskets, and so much more (sometimes it’s more than I can handle and I have to take a nap!)
I am lucky, though, because I have a lot of help. First, there is Jan Duggan (otherwise known as Mom) who has been in the business about twenty-five years. She has done many shows all over the country. She loves Southwestern and California baskets and Plains beadwork. She can tell you the difference between Apache baskets and Pima baskets or
whether a pair of moccasins is Sioux or Cheyenne.
Next there is James Aumell, who manages the gallery. He has had businesses in Santa Fe for over thirty-five years. James specializes in American Indian jewelry and turquoise. Did you know that there are many, many kinds of turquoise? There is turquoise from Nevada like Orville Jack and turquoise from Arizona like Bisbee and Lone Mountain. There is also turquoise from Iran and China. Wow! So much to learn!
My third helper is Peter Duggan. He hasn’t been in the business as long, but his college degree was in fine arts, so he figures things out a little faster than I do. His expertise is in art photography and guitars. It’s a good thing that he knows and plays guitars because we now are featuring and selling quality vintage guitars at Two Star Trading. We have beautiful Martins, Fenders, Gibsons, Hofners and maybe others that I can’t remember. It’s fun when people come in and play the guitars.
I hope you’ll come visit me. We have a very nice gallery with lots of space to run around in. I like the backyard especially! There are showcases full of jewelry from the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and other pueblos. It’s all sterling silver and hand wrought or made from tufa casts. Pottery is one of my favorites. We have pots from Tesuque, San Juan, Nambé, Santo Domingo, Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Zuni and Acoma.
We have all sorts of Plains beadwork and Plateau beadwork; I like all the colors. There are vests and dresses and moccasins and pipe bags and awl cases. We have Arizona baskets such as Apache, Pima and Yavapai; there ae also California baskets like Pomo, Maidu, Hupa, Karok, Mono and Mission. I like the art, although it is hard to see for someone who is only 8” tall. There are New Mexico artists such as Kloss, Gaspard, McIIfe, Parsons, Hurley, Blumenshein, Biss, Bakos, Willard Clark, Fremont Ellis, Dasburg, and Morang.
There’s lots to see- come visit and I’ll show you around!
Love, Ziggy |
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