Time Dances By - Native American Jewelry

Item:	Description:	Price:
NA116	METAL OF THE MOON ( Vintage Native American Indian Navajo Squash Blossom Necklace ): This lovely traditional Navajo Squash Blossom Necklace is the first piece of Indian jewelry that I purchased for myself. That was over 40 years ago, so it and I are definitely “Vintage”. Ingeniously crafted from Sterling Silver – that shimmering beauty that ancient alchemists called “the metal of the moon” – the squash blossom is instantly recognizable. It consists of the distinctive combination: a strand of round, so called “squash blossom” beads that explode into flaring tails interspersed by 2 rows of round beads that surround the compelling center piece – an eye catching silver crescent referred to by its Navajo name “Naja”. This particular “squash” is bezel set with 12 pieces of deep blue turquoise with a silver matrix instead of the usual brown or black webbing. The naja contains 8 more of these matching turquoise and silver stones. There is a hook and eye closure. Remember that this necklace is entirely hand made, including the beads. This squash blossom necklace is an eloquent testimony to the skill and creativity of the Navajo silversmith. Simply irresistible! Condition: Excellent. Size: The total necklace, with naja, hangs approximately 16” long. Each blossom is 1 3/4” long, the naja is 3 1/8” long. The necklace is roughly 25” long from hook to eye.	$350.00
NA119	SHELL QUACKERS ( Vintage Native American Indian Zuni Duck Fetish Necklace ): Now, you don’t see this every day! I am parting with my Vintage (c. 1976) duck fetish necklace to make room for new pieces in my jewelry collection. The Zuni people are famous for their animal carvings, often arranged in what are known as fetish necklaces. At its most fundamental level, a fetish is “an object natural or man made in which the spirit is thought to reside and can be used for good or evil”. The fetish necklaces are designed to display the carver’s work while providing a vibrant representation of nature. This charming necklace is comprised of 11 ducks. Their bodies are made of shell, tipped with jet. Pipestone forms the neck, the duck heads are made of turquoise with golden mother-of-pearl beaks and tiny jet eyes. There are 5 ducks on each side with a bottom duck strung head up to form the centerpiece of the necklace. Tiny olive shell heishi beads are strung between the ducks with a Sterling Silver cone hook and eye closure. These delightful ducks are beautifully executed adding a touch of whimsy to any collection. Condition: Excellent. There is an extra bit of string at the top of each side. This is done so that the necklace retains its flexibility when wearing. Size: 24” long. Each duck is 1 3/4” long, 3/4” high, 7/8” wide.	$200.00
NA118	SHIMMERING BEADED BEAUTIES ( Native American Indian Navajo Beaded Earrings ): I’ll have to let the photos do most of the work in the case of these truly breathtaking Navajo beaded pierced earrings. Call them “shoulder dusters” or long and grand. The red, wine, purple and yellow color palette shimmers and glints with life. The triple Zuni inlaid Tewa (sun face god) disks are set with inserts of turquoise, golden mother-of-pearl, lapis, sugilite, pipestone and abalone shell – and they are a matched pair. The golden and cherry red Venetian glass beads surrounding the sun faces are an inspired choice. These are hand beaded by an artist who truly had mastered the craft of beading. The upper portions of the earrings are applied to suede backings so that they will remain solidly in place. I purchased these at the Dallas Indian Market about 15 years ago. Outstanding earring for the confident woman who likes the have all eyes on her! Condition: Excellent. Size: Total length 5”, hanging beads 1 1/4” at widest point. Triple sunface inlay section 1 3/4” long, 7/8” wide.	SOLD!
NA117	GREEK KEY AND TEAR DROP ( Vintage Native American Indian Navajo Ring ): An estate piece, I believe that this Greek Key and large teardrop turquoise ring was purchased in the 1980’s. The Navajo were quick to appropriate designs from many sources and adapt them to their own classical style. This regal ring features a key design outlining one edge of the magnificently black veined large stone. The workmanship is creative and highly skilled. Turquoise symbolizes the sky and water; it is also associated with healing and protection. The ring band is ¼” wide with a 4 part split shank and is signed “Jackson” and “Sterling”. This Jackson ring is a ring size 9 ¼, but it fits a smaller finger because the ring band is wide. (The ring band can be sized.) I wore it on my largest finger, rather than change the size. Classic in its simplicity, striking in its size, this is a ring that you will want to treasure for a lifetime. Condition: Excellent. Size: 2” long, 1” wide. Ring size 9 ¼.	$150.00
NA113	GUARDIAN OF THE SUN ( Vintage Native American Indian Jewelry Navajo Inlay Bear Pendant ): Bears, the symbol of supreme power, have always been a popular subject with Southwest jewelers. In the Navajo creation story the bear is a guardian of the sun. From my personal collection, I am offering this superbly crafted Navajo Bear Inlay Pendant. (c. 1975) A dazzling diversity of color is created by the intermingling of a variety of stones, shells and metals. Set in Sterling Silver, this bear inlay consists of turquoise, purple and orange spiny oyster shell, jet, mother-of-pearl and malachite. A rare dynamite combination of colors that you won’t find again. This captivating pendant is signed “Frank Yellowhorse” (along with his hallmark of a rearing horse) and stamped “Navajo – Sterling”. There is a large bale wide enough for a thick chain, neck collar or omega chain. The colors and details are a pleasure to study. You can wear this piece with denim or black velvet and be certain that all eyes will be on you! Condition: Excellent. Size: 3 ½” wide, 2 ½” long with bale, ¼” deep. Bale has ½” opening.	SOLD!
NA115	MIDNIGHT BLACK JET BEARS ( Vintage Native American Indian Jewelry Zuni Bear Fetish Necklace ): Gleaming and glistening black jet bears are the focus of this Vintage Zuni Fetish necklace. (Estate piece c. 1975) The Zuni are famous for their animal carvings, often arrayed in what are known as fetish necklaces. At the most fundamental level a fetish is “an object natural or manmade, in which the spirit is thought to reside and can be used for good or evil.” The fetish necklaces are designed to display the carver’s work while providing a vibrant representation of nature. This necklace of jet bears is accented with inset eyes of turquoise. There are 12 standing bears strung on jet and turquoise heishi with a large bear standing upright at the center. The closure is a silver hook and eye style. Bears are my favorite fetish, representing power, strength and healing. Jet is so light weight that it makes this necklace very comfortable to wear. These delightful bears are strikingly elegant, yet with a delightful touch of whimsy. Condition: Excellent. Size: Necklace is 30” long. Center upright bear is 2” high, 3/4” wide, 1 1/4” deep. Other bears are 1” long, 1 3/8” high, 3/8” deep.	SOLD!
NA110	PHILLIP HONANIE HOPI PUEBLO ( Vintage Native American Indian Hopi Belt Buckle ): From my personal collection I am offering this superb Sterling Silver Hopi belt buckle. I purchased it in Santa Fe about 35 years ago. The buckle was made by Phillip Honanie, a prominent Hopi artist featured in the book “American Jewelry I: 1,200 Artist’s Biographies” (pg. 178). The deeply etched overlay design is of a pueblo under a crescent moon and star filled sky. The oval shape is very comfortable to wear and this buckle can be worn by either a woman or a man. A good sized buckle, it is designed to snap on to a belt and the hook goes into the eye of the belt. The back is hallmarked with Phil’s “friendship” mark and stamped “Sterling”. Go West in the Best! Condition: Excellent. Size: 3 ½” wide, 2 ¼” high. Slight dome to the oval so that it slides thru belt without marking the leather.	$250.00
NA111	QUILL WORK DAZZLERS ( Vintage Native American Indian Quill Work Earrings ): Increasing amounts of bead work is being produced by Navajo artists, no doubt inspired by the traditional bead work among their plains neighbors. These bold pierced earrings combine bead work with porcupine quills. (These were a gift to me in the late 70’s.) The medallion shaped circular tops are sewn onto a leather backing. The pinwheel colors are hematite (metallic gray), with iridescent beaded inner circles and accents of white. The 3 hanging loops are made of pierced quills. The silver ear wires fasten closed. Light and easy to wear, these are a wonderfully crafted pair of earrings that will bring you lots of compliments. Great with jeans and leather – a wonderful way to go native. Condition: Excellent. Size: The earrings hang 3 7/8” from the top of the ear wire. The beaded circular medallions are 1 3/4” in diameter. The quill loops are 1 1/4” long.	$75.00
NA108	STRIPES IN STONE ( Native American Indian Zuni Channel Inlay Bracelet ): Zuni jewelers are well known for their spectacular work setting cut stones in mosaic designs, both stone-to-stone inlay and channel inlay, where a thin channel of silver separates the individual stones. This stunning inlay Zuni bracelet unites turquoise, sugilite and deep blue lapis to produce a dynamite combination. The superbly crafted design of the inlay uses the intense colors of the stones to create a small masterpiece of the jeweler’s art. (Each stone has been hand cut and fitted into the channel inlay stripes and then polished.) The inside of this bracelet bears the hallmark “RC” (artist unknown to me) and is stamped “Sterling”. This is a bracelet of solid weight and has a safety chain attached. A symphony in color to please your eye and captivate your imagination. Condition: Excellent. Size: Curved bracelet is 1 1/8” wide, 1/4” deep. Inner circumference is 5” plus a 1” opening. Fits a small wrist only. Cannot be sized.	$250.00
NA104	SPECTACULAR SCRIMSHAW ( Native American Indian Scrimshaw Pendant ): Extravagant in size and remarkable in quality – are phrases that only begin to describe this rare and spectacular scrimshaw pendant. (An estate purchase. Crafted c. 1960.) It appears to be the work of 2 different artists. The Sterling Silver mount is signed by Navajo silversmith “R. Bennett” and the colorful scrimshaw design work has the initials “JMT” engraved near the bottom. The subject of the scene is definitely Hopi, so it is probably a Hopi/Navajo collaboration. Scrimshaw work is engraved on a surface and then usually highlighted with black, but in this case colorful, pigment. The precision and delicacy of the work produce a striking visual effect – clearly the work of a master craftsman. (You can see the fine etched marks in the close-up photos and that of the initials.) The colorful scene is rich in symbolism. The Tewa sun face at the top surveys the Hopi dancer, as a trio of mudheads appears at the left. I am uncertain about the material that is used as the base of this miniature work of art. It is not ivory. It could be bone or possibly “Vegetable Ivory” – a nut palm which polishes to an incredible likeness of ivory and whose hardness and durability rival that of ivory. There is a pendant hook on the back side. This is a rare, one-of-a-kind, piece of Native American jewelry. It will linger in your memory. Condition: Excellent. Size: 3 1/8” long, 2” wide, 3/8” deep.	$500.00
NA103	JOURNEY TO THE HOPI WORLD ( Native American Indian Hopi Bolo Tie ): I am pleased to be able to offer you this outstanding bolo tie by award winning Hopi Artist Chalmers Day. This exquisite Sterling Silver Hopi design is very sophisticated with extremely detailed overlay work. The quality of his artistry is exceptional as seen in this bolo, which combines rain, water and village scenes in one piece. The most complex Hopi designer of whom I know, his work is often identified by the tiny round circle as seen on the left lower half of this bolo. Chalmers Day’s jewelry takes one on a journey into the Hopi world. His designs portray the life of the Hopi, their migrations, ceremonies and spiritual figures. He is recognized as one of the greatest overlay jewelers in history. (See “American Indian Jewelry I – 1200 Artist Biographies” Page 133.) There is a clamp style release on the back of the bolo and the Chalmers Day hallmark of a cloud is impressed in the silver. The braided tie is black leather with long tapered Sterling Silver tips and dangling cones. His awards are to numerous to list. I used to stand in line at 7 AM at the Santa Fe Indian Market to be able to purchase one of the 7 or 8 pieces he had made. This is the finest Hopi work available. It is a bolo that will stand out in any collection. Condition: Excellent. This is part of our personal collection and was purchased over 20 years ago. Size: Silver overlay design 2 3/4” high, 1 3/4” wide. Braided tie plus tips 47” long.	SOLD!
NA102	FLASHES OF FIRE ( Native American Indian Jewelry Zuni / Navajo Bracelet ): I am pleased to offer this sparkling angelskin Coral & Opal Channel Inlay Cuff Bracelet. (c. 1985) The pink of the coral set against the flash and sparkle of the opal pieces is a killer combination. Fine and precise workmanship is needed to cut and inlay these pieces of stone separated by fine Sterling Silver lines. Channel inlay is a technique usually associated with Zuni craftsman, but it is now equally popular with Navajo artists. Ray Tracy is a prominent Navajo jewelry designer who has used this contemporary inlay method. This bracelet is hallmarked “DD” and marked “Sterling”. The opals used in this inlay work are referred to as “lab opals”. They are man made and commonly used by Native American artists. Feminine and flattering, this bracelet looks superb on your wrist and the color combination is unbeatable. Condition: Excellent. Size: 3/4” wide, 1/8” thick, inner dimension 6 5/8” including 1” opening. My wrist is 6 1/2” over the wrist bone and it fits me perfectly. This bracelet cannot be made wider. It will fit a medium wrist.	$225.00
NA094	SILVER DUST ( Native American Indian Navajo Cuff Bracelet ): As Native American artists master new techniques the look of Southwestern jewelry has been expanding in many directions. This Navajo bracelet, signed “Nez”, is an example of the reticulation technique. Discovered by accident in 1978, in the reticulation process shavings or filings of silver dust are applied to a silver surface – which is then heated until the particles adhere to it, providing a grainy texture. At the center of this Sterling Silver bracelet is a bezel set cabochon of deep coral. The granulation provides a surface that greatly enhances the color of the coral. I purchased this piece in Santa Fe approximately 20 years ago, but it is still a cutting edge look for a collector who enjoys an artistic contemporary style. Condition: Excellent. Size: Bracelet is 3/4” wide, 6 1/2” in circumference, including the 1 3/8” opening. Best suited to a smaller wrist.	$175.00
NA084	SQUARES OF EARTH AND SKY ( Vintage Native American Indian Jewelry Santo Domingo Necklace ): Here is a very special vintage Santo Domingo 2 strand necklace. (c. 1970’s) Tiny shell Heishi beads separate vivid squares of turquoise, jet, brown pipestone, green serpentine and white clamshell. (Heishi is the Santo Domingo word for shell.) There is a silver hook and eye closure. This unusual necklace of graduated squares is striking and colorful. Its enduring appeal will speak to generations to come. You will feel positively regal wearing this superbly crafted Native American necklace. Condition: Excellent. Size: Bottom strand is 27” long, inside strand is 26” long. Largest squares are 5/8”, smallest 3/8”.	$225.00
NA081	HOPI HARMONY ( Vintage Hopi Native American Indian Bracelet ): Hopi overlay jewelry is characterized by self-containment and internal harmony. This sleek and sophisticated Vintage Hopi Tewa bracelet (c. 1975) is a perfect example of that harmony. Symbols relate to each other and borders circumscribe the whole, suggesting the order and serenity of the Hopi, whose name for themselves, Hopi-Shinumu, means “people of peace”. The overlay technique was developed by the Hopi in the early 1940’s. The bottom layer of silver that shows through the top cut-out is oxidized to make the design more prominent. Look closely for the tiny Hopi texture marks under the overlay polished design. Superbly crafted and hallmarked by an unknown artist, this bracelet is also marked “ Sterling ” and bears the trademark Hopi Tewa face denoting the Hopi Arts and Crafts Guild. Regal and elegant, black and silver is always in the best of taste. Condition: Excellent. Size: 1 1/4” wide, inner circumference, including the opening, is 7”. It fits a medium wrist.	SOLD!
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