Quandelacy Family
Ellen Quandelacy is the matriarch of the Quandelacy family. She herself learned to carve from her father, Johnny Quam. Ellen passed away in 2002.
The Quandelacys carve distinctive sleek, high-polished animals and lovely maidens; they are also well-known for their fetish necklaces.
Stewart Quandelacy
Stewart Quandelacy now in his late 60's, carves what Kent McManis called the "quintessential Zuni fetish," - the medicine bear with Stewart's unique zig-zag heartline that we think resembles an EKG. Stewart has been carving this bear in various materials and sizes for more than 40 years! Today, Stewart even carves large medicine bears with a triple heartline. Even after all these years, collectors have not tired of his medicine bear and this bear is one of the best-selling Zuni fetishes today. Stewart carves other animals and Sunshine Studio usually has at least one of his six-directional sets available for sale. With his wife Priscilla Lasiloo, he carves elegant long necked bears, buffaloes and mountain lions. When there is a heartline on the fetish, it is Stewart's. The other smaller bears are Priscilla's. We hear that Priscilla inlays the eyes on all the couple's carvings and she is also the one who painstakingly sands & polishes all the carvings.
Andres Quandelacy
Andres Quandelacy is the only surviving carving brother of Stewart Quandelacy, now in his early 60's. Andres Quandelacy is the most prolific of the large Quandelacy carving family, due to his strong work ethic. When not working at cattle ranching, he always can be found at his carving bench. Andres carves very sleek mountain lions, bears, realistic horses and numerous other beautiful creatures. Most of his animals have straight line heartlines on only one side of the fetish(that is his signature style). Andres' fetish necklaces are among the most sought-after of the family.
Faye Quandelacy
Faye Quandelacy is Sandra's younger sister in her early 60's and also is a maiden carver. Faye Quandelacy learned carving from Lavina Tsikewa. For most of her carving career, Faye has specialized in maidens. Some of her larger maidens stand out in any collection, especially those with an eagle perched on the maiden which she carved in her younger days after attending art school. Faye has slowed down her carving of late and carves mostly smaller maidens. Faye is known for carving eagles and bears protecting the maiden which harken back to a Zuni creation story that purports animals saved the Zuni tribe from a flood. Faye took over Ellen's role as matriarch of the family, and organizes the Quandelacy "Grandmother" fetish necklaces. These necklaces have one carving by each of the children, with one of Faye's fossil ivory maidens as a centerpiece. Every fetish necklace collector should have one of the Quandelacy Grandmother necklaces.
Sandra Quandelacy
Sandra Quandelacy is now the oldest carving sister, at 67 with the recent death of the elderly Albenita Yunie. Sandra Quandelacy is a maiden specialist. Sandra achieves consistent fine quality in the detail work on her maidens utilizing the best stones that can be found in Zuni. Sandra is known for adding tablita headdresses or olla/water jars to the heads of her maidens. Sandra creates unique fetish necklaces with ears of corn featuring a large maiden pendant. Every maiden collector should have one or two maidens by Sandra in addition to what he/she has collected by Faye. Sandra does some unique fetish necklaces with ears of corn.
Georgia Quandelacy
Georgia Quandelacy is noted for her animals with multicolor heartlines and sunface inlay. Her moles are important for any small six-directional set. Her necklaces with sunface inlays on all the carvings are quite attractive. Sadly, Georgia died in 2019, we believe.
Albenita Quandelacy Yunie
Albenita Quandelacy Yunie carves somewhat larger and simpler fetishes than the rest of the family. Her necklaces are simple, relatively inexpensive, and attractive. She has two sons, Brian and Jeff Yunie who carve fetishes that are similar to their mom's. Sadly, Albenita died around 2020.
Avery Quandelacy
Avery Quandelacy carves fetishes in his own style. He does horses, bears, wolves, buffalo, and other animals. His armadillos and his otters are especially attractive. He has carved several very unique, whimsical, large elephants over the years. Sadly, Avery died around 2016.
Stuart Quandelacy
Stuart Quandelacy is Dickie and Amy Quandelacy's only son - he was the middle child. He is a child of the Eagle Clan and his mom is from the Turkey Clan. He started creating jewelry in high school then when he moved to Arizona to study at Pima Medical Institute in Tucson, he started to carve. Kent McManis was Stuart's first buyer. Stuart is known for carving maidens. He carves the maidens in stones as well as shell. His maidens usually have an offering jar with turquoise or multicolor corn. He also carves some elegant maidens on his fetish necklaces. Sadly, Stuart died in February of 2022.
Vickie Quandelacy
Vickie Quandelacy is Stuart's older sister. She is a child of the Eagle Clan(her Father's clan) and her mom is from the Turkey Clan. Vickie Quandelacy is the oldest child of Dickie Quandelacy and Amy Wesley. In 2022, Vickie turned fifty one years old. She has been carving for over twenty years and credits Greg Hoffman at Turquoise Village in Zuni for championing her art. Vickie learned to carve from her aunt Georgiann "Georgia" Quandelacy. Georgia taught Vickie by having her buff the carvings. Vickie has developed a style of maiden with bold features. Vickie's early maidens were carved in apple coral, gold-lip mother-of-pearl, black marble and antler. For a while turquoise maidens mounted to small bases became Vickie's go to material. Now, we are happy to receive green snail shell maidens with incised shawls, jet inlaid dragonflies & stars. Vickie's maidens have always stood out from the rest of the family's due to their elaborate inlaid necklaces - inlaid with bits of penn shell, coral, jet, turquoise and clam.
Kateri Sanchez
Kateri Sanchez is the daughter of the now deceased Georgia Quandelacy who died at 62 in 2019. Kateri carves the corn maiden more than her aunts and has developed a mature style. Kateri is now combining owls, bears and buffaloes with maidens on her carvings implying that the two are stronger, together. Kateri has found her niche already with large carvings made in labradorite, marble and until recently; turquoise. In 2018, Kateri was awarded first place at the Santa Fe Indian Market. Her stand alone owls, wolves and bears are now sought after just like her maidens. Her daughter Jada, in her late teens is already starting to carve as well so stay tuned!
Chad Quandelacy
Chad Quandelacy is Stewart and Pricilla's only son. He used to carve more when he was married to Valerie Comosona - they often would work together on a carving. Chad's maidens are unique and quite different from those of the rest of the family. Some people prefer his carvings to those of his aunts. Chad is most known for combining a maiden with a medicine bear - a tribute we are told to Chad's father; Stewart Quandelacy & his uncle; Stuart Quandelacy
Ernie Mackel
Ernie Mackel is included because he is the son-in-law of Priscilla and Stewart. He is noted for his mountain lions and wolves carved running at full speed. He does some ravens that are unique because they often have a brightly-colored pebble in their mouth. Ernie is now the best when it comes to carving a big directional animal - mostly the wolf, eagle, or mountain lion, then adding the five directional brothers on the back in the offering bundle.
Wilmer, Barlow and Dickie Quandelacy
Wilmer Quandelacy carves only rarely. Barlow Quandelacy passed away in 1982. Their fetishes are quite hard to find. Dickie Quandelacy's are even harder to find as he prefers to do inlaid jewelry.