Turquoise/Native American jewelry

[alanfgag]

I greatly appreciate the notes and feedback Alan. It is indeed heavy weighing in at 350 grams. I would be just as happy with 1930’s too, and I am excited to see what you have on the way! Thanks again my friend.

That is indeed a very heavy piece… not likely a tourist piece at that weight, perhaps crafted for native wear. You won’t forget you have it on.

 

[earl]

Some 25+ years ago picked up a watch at a Santa Fe jewelry store going out of business. Some beautiful inlay work consisting of mother of pearl, turquoise, coral and jet. Finally decided today to google the hallmark on the silver and it seems to be a Tommy Jackson piece. As a general estimate, anyone have any idea how much such a piece might go for today? Memory is fuzzy, but think I paid less than $90 for it.

 

[alanfgag]

Some 25+ years ago picked up a watch at a Santa Fe jewelry store going out of business. Some beautiful inlay work consisting of mother of pearl, turquoise, coral and jet. Finally decided today to google the hallmark on the silver and it seems to be a Tommy Jackson piece. As a general estimate, anyone have any idea how much such a piece might go for today? Memory is fuzzy, but think I paid less than $90 for it.

There is a good amount of trade in Tommy Jackson's jewelry on eBay and also at retail in shops that sell his work. I would check the <sold> listings on eBay to get a sense of the resale value of your piece.

 

[alanfgag]

The past couple of years have had an impact on my daily wardrobe. I used to enjoy spending some time on Sundays ironing shirts but seems I rarely do that now, or get much wear from my shirts with collars. I have a number of bolo ties that I enjoyed wearing with a collared shirt - these too have seen little use. I pulled out one of my favorites to wear today. It had taken on much tarnish but a quick swipe with a jeweler's cloth brightened it up nicely. This is another piece by Kenneth Begay sold during his period as a bench smith at White Hogan in Scottsdale. I'd guess it dates from about 1950 though that is just a guess. I believe the subject is a mountain... I have a pendant that also represents a mount (Picacho Peak, some have said). The imagery in this piece is more abstract and open to interpretation.

I enjoyed getting this one out in the sunshine today.

 

[RossRYoung]

It’s beautiful Alan, lovely detail indeed.

 

[earl]

There is a good amount of trade in Tommy Jackson's jewelry on eBay and also at retail in shops that sell his work. I would check the <sold> listings on eBay to get a sense of the resale value of your piece.

Looked at some retail online to get an idea. Of course, couldn't find any new inlay watches, but generally the jewelry stores seem to be shooting for $300-400 for inlay of that size.

 

[Bamaboots]

I spent a considerable amount of time looking through bolo tie listings this morning, Alan and found nothing comparable, at least to my tastes. Great piece.

 

[earl]

That is a lovely bolo Alan. I have 4 bolos myself, with only 1 emanating from the southwest. 1 is a Lakota beadwork bolo. My bolos don't get a lot of use either as I only periodically wear them with long-sleeved shirts in cooler weather.

 

[earl]

OK, a hallmark question. So, I also bought a bolo tie at the aforementioned Santa Fe store. It's large having around a 3x4 inch turquoise carved into a face. Quite a deal on that one having paid $45 for it, knowing what bolos that size are being priced at new now. It's hallmark is FV. Could find FY's but no FV. Anyone have a clue who could have been the maker of this? Thanks.

 

[alanfgag]

OK, a hallmark question. So, I also bought a bolo tie at the aforementioned Santa Fe store. It's large having around a 3x4 inch turquoise carved into a face. Quite a deal on that one having paid $45 for it, knowing what bolos that size are being priced at new now. It's hallmark is FV. Could find FY's but no FV. Anyone have a clue who could have been the maker of this? Thanks.

I don't find a quick match in Barton Wright's book of hallmarks... perhaps share a picture or two.

 

[earl]

I don't find a quick match in Barton Wright's book of hallmarks... perhaps share a picture or two.

Thanks for checking Alan. Even if I had a way of taking a pic, am too tech-impaired to post it.

 

[Bamaboots]

Hard to miss this style ring if you’ve done any searches at all for vintage turquoise rings. I liked the tourist era style and started looking for one in my size. Proved difficult, especially one where the stone wasn’t abalone, chalk or something else. This one finally popped up and I imagine the stone is a stabilized ‘something’, it at least has some character. Appears to have a hallmark next to ster but I’m uncertain.

 

[BobHufford]

My wife wore these Zuni pieces (that belonged to her late Mother) to our daughter and son-in-law’s first wedding anniversary / Halloween party. The bracelet is made with now-banned tortoise. The necklace uses Jett.

 

[alanfgag]

An antique Pueblo necklace with dragonfly crosses and old tufa cast double naja.

 

[TheGuitarFairy]

This hatband was made by the Navajo, Johnny Pablo. Not too much information out there about him nor examples of his work that highlight this sort of fine filing. Apparently he started working in the 50s. Hat's an old Resistol.

 

[alanfgag]

Mid-century Navajo modernism.

 

[cookie]

The Greek key Navajo style.

 

[dh66]

Mid-century Navajo modernism.

View attachment 378965

That bracelet is a truly impressive piece, Alan

 

[alanfgag]

That bracelet is a truly impressive piece, Alan

Thank you. It’s marked with the horned sun of the Navajo Arts and Crafts Guild… posted some additional photos of it further back. Very elegant form and beautifully crafted as well. Some of the NACG pieces are special.

 

[alanfgag]

Here is a sampling from my collection of cuffs from the Navajo Arts and Crafts Guild. The NACG, founded in 1941 under the auspices of the US government Indian Arts and Crafts Board with support from Navajo tribal authority the NACG helped support a return to traditional values in Navajo silversmithing in response to the pressures of the tourist trade on Indian arts and crafts. Excellence of craftsmanship and design were attributes required for a piece to be recognized by the guild with the horned sun stamp (sometimes "Navajo" was also imprinted). A stunning spare aesthetic also appears in some of these pieces, a mid-century influence that speaks to both traditional Native imagery and contemporary design trends. I find these pieces beautiful and fascinating.