Thank you, sir.
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Turquoise/Native American jewelry
- Thread starter Feraud
- Start date
- Messages
- 14,537
My wife and daughters love when our friend from Santa Fe comes to visit. Not only for the great company and endless fun, but she usually arrives bearing gifts — as she pares down her jewelry collection.
- Messages
- 17,572
Very nice! What's the case & strap size on the Wyler?
The Wyler case is 35.5-36mm in diameter, and the lugs are just shy of 18mm wide. I've seen Wylers on cuffs before, and they seem to fit. I'm putting a WW2 Bulova on another cuff, but the piece that holds the watch on broke so I need to get it fixed.
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- Messages
- 17,572
These tips were measured by the seller to be 18mm but I think they were just eyeballing with a ruler. I haven't put a mic on them yet but they are at least 19mm, it may even take a 20mm. I don't want to file them down to fit. So my 1960's Omega Seamaster won't work.
So I'm on the lookout for something that will fit, & I've always been partial to arrowhead markers.
For 19mm or 20mm you really start getting into dive watch or more modern territory. My Tag watches are 20mm
- Messages
- 15,011
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Happy Juneteenth. Today I pulled out two favorite pieces to wear together. The large ring is crafted to display a fine green turquoise stone, likely from the Cerrillos mine. It is signed with the stylized initials used by Sam Roanhorse.
The bracelet is marked only with the horned sun stamp of the Navajo Arts and Crafts Guild. The file and chisel work on this cuff is beautifully done - perhaps the work of the Guild's first director and Sam Roanhorse's older brother Ambrose Roanhorse, though there is no way to know. Many early Guild pieces display fine silversmithing with modernist influence and little use of turquoise adornment. They were not signed by the artist. I've seen this alternating file motif used in other bracelets from time to time, but never with the degree of refinement displayed in this piece.
Old purchases previously posted... I hope you enjoy seeing them again.
The bracelet is marked only with the horned sun stamp of the Navajo Arts and Crafts Guild. The file and chisel work on this cuff is beautifully done - perhaps the work of the Guild's first director and Sam Roanhorse's older brother Ambrose Roanhorse, though there is no way to know. Many early Guild pieces display fine silversmithing with modernist influence and little use of turquoise adornment. They were not signed by the artist. I've seen this alternating file motif used in other bracelets from time to time, but never with the degree of refinement displayed in this piece.
Old purchases previously posted... I hope you enjoy seeing them again.
- Messages
- 13,629
- Location
- down south
The lady I bought this from said it was Navajo from the 60s. It's not marked, and I'm pretty sure it's coin silver, but it didn't cost much and I'm pretty happy to give it another chance to be appreciated.
- Messages
- 15,011
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Mid century geometry
- Messages
- 15,011
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
The matrix. Unknown makers and era, likely Diné.
- Messages
- 15,011
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
I don't wear this belt too often but when I do I am always struck by what a wonderful piece it is. The work of Hopi silversmith Morris Robinson (Talawytewa) who lived from 1900 - 1987. I've not tried to date the tooled leather belt, but the side stamped pieces are fastened to it with rawhide ties which leads me to think it might have been the original belt for the ranger pieces. But of course it might be newer.
- Messages
- 14,537
My wife’s bracelet stack today …
- Messages
- 13,629
- Location
- down south
Interesting piece I was gifted today. It's from Bell Trading Post, who produced tourist jewelry in Albuquerque from 1932 til 1969. This one is stamped with a Pacific Northwest orca design, as opposed to any of the usual Southwestern stuff they are most known for.
- Messages
- 15,011
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Love it.
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- Messages
- 13,629
- Location
- down south
Thanks Alan.
Any idea which of the Begays this could be? Haven't turned up anything with this particular hallmark. It's sterling but not marked so makes me think it might be an older piece. Found this at the flea market this weekend.
- Messages
- 15,011
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
There are so many silversmiths working with that name... I have only followed the work of Kenneth Begay (1913-1977) and his long history with the White Hogan in Scottsdale. His hallmark is a distinctive KB set into an incised square. His son, Harvey Begay (1939-2009) used a similar design with his initials HB. Looks like a handsome polished Cerillos turquoise cabochon, maybe 1970+? Just a guess. I'll take a look through books at home to see if the hallmark is identifiable.
