Turquoise/Native American jewelry

[Michaelshane]

My wife thrifted this heavy cuff today at Goodwill. A late birthday gift for me. [emoji4]

The artist is Emerson Bill (Navajo / Diné).

"Navajo silversmith Emerson Bill practices a technique all his own. His bracelets are done in overlay technique; a base layer of sheet silver with an overlaid layer from which the design is cut and then soldered to the base layer. Where his technique differs is in his manner of creating the overlaid layer. In Hopi overlay jewelry the design is cut away from the top layer of sheet silver with a jeweler's jigsaw. In Emerson's technique the top layer's design is sculpted with a cold chisel. This allows him to get beveled edges and cut out angles that couldn't be achieved with a saw. At first glance his work appears to be very deep stampwork, but stamps won't cut that deep. The visual effect he seeks is characterized by dramatic relief and bold designs."

I don't know who wrote this but it's wrong.I know Emerson very well.Early when he first started making jewelry he used to look at my jewelry in Richardsons in Gallup.He liked the way I stamped my jewelry deep.He decided he would stamp his even deeper,so thats how it started.He got deeper and deeper,no one stamps as deep as he does.It's just annealed often and pounded multiple times with a heavy hammer.It is not overlay.

 

[BobHufford]

I don't know who wrote this but it's wrong.I know Emerson very well.Early when he first started making jewelry he used to look at my jewelry in Richardsons in Gallup.He liked the way I stamped my jewelry deep.He decided he would stamp his even deeper,so thats how it started.He got deeper and deeper,no one stamps as deep as he does.It's just annealed often and pounded multiple times with a heavy hammer.It is not overlay.

Thanks for the clarification @Michaelshane. Always good to learn the true techniques. This is where I found that description:

https://chacodog.com/EmersonBillColdChiselSculptedOverlayBraceletsize738_NBS-EBL058.php

Dang Google ...

I love the piece. I just wish it fit me better.

BTW ... great to see you on the Lounge!

 

[alanfgag]

Agree... good to see a post from you Michael.

 

[alanfgag]

Two pieces associated with the Navajo Arts and Crafts Guild - the older bracelet stamped with the "U.S. Navajo 70" mark of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board for the Guild location at Ft. Wingate, used from 1938-1943. The ring is stamped with the Guild's horned sun mark, likely 1940s-1950s.

 

[1mach1]

Two pieces associated with the Navajo Arts and Crafts Guild - the older bracelet stamped with the "U.S. Navajo 70" mark of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board for the Guild location at Ft. Wingate, used from 1938-1943. The ring is stamped with the Guild's horned moon mark, likely 1940s-1950s.

Very nice Alan. I like the work on that bracelet

 

[BobHufford]

One more from my wife’s late grandfather. Purchased in 1979 he wore this on special occasions — 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries, induction into the Barbed Wire Collectors Hall of fame, etc.. I’m wearing it today as it hasn’t been out of the safe since his passing 15 years ago.

Yellow gold with inlay of turquoise, coral, mother-of-pearl, jet, malachite and maybe wood?

Artists were Silas & Bertie Ohmsatte, Zuni.

 

[alanfgag]

Beautiful piece, beautiful provenance.

 

[BobHufford]

Beautiful piece, beautiful provenance.

Thanks Alan!

 

[alanfgag]

Two pieces that I like to wear together.

 

[BobHufford]

Two pieces that I like to wear together.

Sorry ... I might have drooled on them a bit. Here's a towel...

 

[Bamaboots]

One more from my wife’s late grandfather. Purchased in 1979 he wore this on special occasions — 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries, induction into the Barbed Wire Collectors Hall of fame, etc.. I’m wearing it today as it hasn’t been out of the safe since his passing 15 years ago.

Yellow gold with inlay of turquoise, coral, mother-of-pearl, jet, malachite and maybe wood?

Artists were Silas & Bertie Ohmsatte, Zuni.

Just beautiful, Bob.

 

[BobHufford]

Just beautiful, Bob.

Thanks Greg!

 

[alanfgag]

Recently purchased, a heavy, historically significant cuff with traditional motifs stamped under the Indian Arts and Crafts Board U.S. Navajo program, 1938-42. Trading post 1 corresponds to Louis Ilfeld's Gallup Mercantile Co. Famous trader Charles G. Wallace (assigned U.S. Navajo 2 and U.S. Zuni 1) worked for the Ilfeld trading post at Zuni in his early years.

 

[BobHufford]

Recently purchased, a heavy, historically significant cuff with traditional motifs stamped under the Indian Arts and Crafts Board U.S. Navajo program, 1938-42. Trading post 1 corresponds to Louis Ilfeld's Gallup Mercantile Co. C.G. Wallace (U.S. Navajo 2) worked for the Ilfeld trading post at Zuni in his early years.

That's a beauty Alan!

 

[alanfgag]

That's a beauty Alan!

Thanks Bob. I came across this nice article on the IACB and its role in the history of hallmarks on Native American silver jewelry. I think it's an interesting read.

 

[Sheepdog149]

Same 'ol[emoji482]

PS - tailgate party @ Foo Fighters concert (Coral Sky Amphitheatre)

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[BobHufford]

Thanks Bob. I came across this nice article on the IACB and its role in the history of hallmarks on Native American silver jewelry. I think it's an interesting read.

Good read Alan -- thanks for posting it!

 

[alanfgag]

This doesn't really fit the thread but I though some might enjoy seeing it. One of the dealers I have purchased jewelry from in the past had a classic Ganado Navajo rug for sale. We've collected oriental carpets over the years but this is my first Navajo rug purchase. This piece was purchased out of pawn at the Cross Canyon Trading Post in the early 1960s. Likely woven c.1930.

This detail shows, I believe, the spirit line or weaver's line - an intentional imperfection woven into some Navajo rugs as a pathway to provide an exit for the weaver's spirit.

 

[handymike]

Beautiful!

 

[1mach1]

This doesn't really fit the thread but I though some might enjoy seeing it. One of the dealers I have purchased jewelry from in the past had a classic Ganado Navajo rug for sale. We've collected oriental carpets over the years but this is my first Navajo rug purchase. This piece was purchased out of pawn at the Cross Canyon Trading Post in the early 1960s. Likely woven c.1930.

This detail shows, I believe, the spirit line or weaver's line - an intentional imperfection woven into some Navajo rugs as a pathway to provide an exit for the weaver's spirit.

That is very nice Alan!