Vintage Turquoise Bracelet

Vintage Turquoise Bracelets

Vintage turquoise and silver bracelets made by Navajo and Zuni
silversmiths from the early 1900's through the 1970's.

Among Indian people, Turquoise jewelry is mainly worn at
ceremonies, dances and other important events. Turquoise jewelry
is a sign of wealth and status. It is not unusual to see an
Indian family's turquoise jewelry displayed in their
home when not being worn.

Turquoise Silver Bracelet

Made by legendary Zuni silversmith, Annie Quam Gasper (AQG).

This bracelet was made before 1975. After 1975 Annie
removed the period after each letter of her mark.

Quite Collectible

Turquoise Spider web Channel Inlay

Spiders aid our manual dexterity

7/8" wide

For a 6" wrist
Not Adjustable

$1200

<><><>

Teddy Weahkee Butterfly Maiden Bracelet

Circa 1930's

Teddy Weahkee was the first to use Mosaic Inlay inside a channel.

Mosaic Inlay is stone against stone.

Teddy Weahkee was a painter, sculptor, stone cutter and
silversmith. Weahkee art is treasured by museums and
collectors alike. Rarely does it come to market.

Mother of Pearl, Turquoise, Jet and Spiney Oyster

The Butterfly Maiden measures
2" x 2"

The Bracelet is made for a 6" to a 6 1/4" wrist

$8495

<><><>

Vintage Sea Foam Kingman Turquoise Nugget Silver Bracelet
Silversmith Unknown

Tufa Cast with 6 Beautiful Matching Kingman
Turquoise Gem Stones

It is for a 6" to a 6 1/4" wrist and can
be adjusted slightly

1 3/4" wide

Circa 1970's
Excellent condition.

$525

<><><>

Here is a collectors treasure. Two Paul Saufkie bracelets from the
late 1930's or early 1940's that were made during the development of
the Hopi overlay technique.

It is interesting to note that the overlay style, started by Hopi artists
Paul Saufkie and Fred Kaboutie to give Hopi silversmiths their
own style, was so well accepted that 70 years
later it is copied by most everyone.

These are among the bracelets that started overlay.

Read the story below...

Paul Saufkie Hallmark

Paul Saufkie is an important figure in the evolution of Southwest
Indian Jewelry. In the book Skystone and Silver, Rosnek and
Stacey describe the evolution of Hopi
Overlay Jewelry this way,

"For many years Hopi Silversmiths were content to copy
the work of their Navajo neighbors, but in 1938 the Museum
of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff began a program to develop
a distinctive Hopi style... overlay... the style was developed
by two Hopis, Paul Saufkie and Fred Kabotie...

World War II interrupted this program but it resumed after
the war with the help of the GI Bill.

Paula Baxter, in her fine book, Southwest Silver Jewelry
picks up this thread of information. "funded by the GI Bill...
in February 1947... lasting 18 months... the course paid 15 Hopi
veterans for training, tools, and living expenses. The students
used copper for practice and worked using sheet silver in
a variety of thicknesses... matting over oxidized
surfaces... cut out designs... further refinements
included textures and repousse' effects."

"By the end of the 1940's a remarkable range of silver Hopi
overlay jewelry had been created by such pioneer designers
as Fred Kaboutie, Herbert Komayouse, Pierce
Kewanwytewa, Clarence Lomayestewa,
Burt Puhuyestewa, Paul Saufkie, and
Orville Talayumptewa."

I might add that present through most of this evolution
was Paul Saufkie's son, Lawrence Saufkie. 60 years later, despite
being almost blind, continues producing
original, Hopi overlay jewelry.

Read more about Lawrence Saufkie

Overlay proved so well accepted that it has become a part of
every accomplished Southwest Indian silversmiths arsenal
of techniques. However, the fine incising seen on the
bottom layer of Hopi silver still remains the
cornerstone of Hopi Overlay.

Every Hopi silversmith has his own incising technique
and it is part of the design (a hallmark
of sorts as well).

Incising on a Paul Saufkie belt buckle made later in his life.

Paul Saufkie Silver Overlay Bracelet

Deer Jumping in the Clouds

There are many things which are unique to this very early
Paul Saufkie bracelet.

1) The incising is perfect. That I believe is the result of young
eyes and hands and having time available to be precise.

2) Both the silver bottom layer and overlay are beautifully
domed, This is very difficult to execute. It creates a
wonderful effect that I have never seen before.
Overlay bracelets typically are made flat.

3) This bracelet is made with very thin gauge silver. The
bracelet feels light as air and is very
comfortable to wear.

Hand Hammered Paul Saufkie's Bracelet

Continuous Life

This is probably the first appearance of this old world famous design
in Saufkie jewelry.

The work is magnificent and so light... light as air. Consequently
the hand hammered silver fatigued and cracked.

This can be repaired but it will not be original.

Both Paul Saufkie bracelets are sold as a set

for a 6" wrist - no adjustment possible

$1850 for the pair

<><><>

Vintage Kingman Turquoise Ox Blood Red Coral Silver Bracelet
by William Dodson

Beautiful Silver Flower and Leaf Design
circa early 1970's

It is for a 7 1/2" wrist and can
be adjusted slightly

2" wide

New condition.

$825

<><><>

Vintage Bisbee Turquoise Ox Blood Red Coral Silver Bracelet
by William Dodson

Fine Silver Leaf Design featuring deep Ox Blood Red Coral
and Clear Bisbee Turquoise - circa late 1970's

It is for a 7 1/8" wrist and can
be adjusted slightly

1 3/4" wide

Excellent condition.

$725

<><><>

Needle Point Turquoise set in solid Silver Bracelet

The artist is unknown.

It is for a 6" wrist and can NOT be adjusted

circa 1970's

It is in very good condition.
Some of the turquoise has changed
to green blue color

$275

<><><>

Mark Chee Silver and Bisbee Turquoise Bracelet

Mark Chee is among the earliest Southwest Silversmiths. He
was born in Arizona around 1900 and was sent to government
School at Fort Defiance (a United States government
practice during that time).

Mark Chee was a silversmith all his life. His
jewelry is highly collected.

This Bisbee bracelet was probably made in the 1930's or
1940's. The Smokey Bisbee used was rare even then, when the
Bisbee mine was operating. It is unlikely that anything
like it will ever be found again. Bisbee was mined
primarily for Cooper. It was blasted out which
caused most Bisbee Turquoise to be cracked
from the shock of the blasting.

These very large matching specimen's are not cracked. They
are perfect Smokey Bisbee specimens with beautiful luster
and zat. There is a small pin head size hole in one
turquoise piece. Examine this hole and you get
clear proof that this turquoise was never
treated or stabilized.

It is as if the stone itself says to anyone who cares to
look, "let there be no doubt, nature
itself produced me".

The Bisbee Turquoise gemstones measure

2 3/8" x 1 3/8" wide
2" x 1 1/4" wide
1 3/8" x 1" wide

The Bracelet is 3 1/2" wide

For a 6 3/4" wrist
It can be adjusted slightly

$9550

<><><>

Silver Bracelet set with 3 Extremely fine Bisbee Turquoise Gemstones

Stover Paul

It is unlikely that you will ever find better turquoise then that
which resides in this bracelet. The turquoise was represented to me
when I purchased it as Lander Blue, it very well could be. However,
to me it also has the look of very high grade
gem Bisbee or Red Mountain.

The bracelet itself has the look of jewelry from
the Art Deco period .

It is well constructed of heavy silver.

I estimate that it was made in the 1970's. The 1970's was
a period of great interest in turquoise jewelry and large
companies such as Neiman Marcus and Saks
commissioned pieces such as these.

The artist is unknown.

It is for a 6" wrist and can be carefully adjusted
slightly up or down.

In new condition

4 3/4"

The 3 gemstones measure
1", 3/4", 1 1/4"

$2250

<><><>