EPIC OLD PAWN 1930 ' S NAVAJO STERLING & TURQUOISE KETOH Fresh Estate Find 1 Of 2
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:24657273 | Main Stone: Turquoise |
| Jewelry Type: Bracelets | Brand: Estate |
| Tribal Affiliation: Navajo |
EPIC "OLD PAWN" 1930'S NAVAJO STERLING & TURQUOISE KETOHFresh estate find - 1 of 2 listed - NO RESERVE
Measurements:3" x 3.5"
The leather on both was refreshed around 20 years or so but the actual sterling part dates to the 1930'SThese are bow guards but the indigenous name is Ketoh
During the 1860s and early 1870s, Navajos (Diné) learned silversmithing from Hispanic artisans in New Mexico, and Plains Indian craftsmen whose own metalwork stemmed from Colonial ...sources in the eastern United States. Mexican pesos, U.S. American dollars, and ingot silver were melted down and recast in molds carved from soft volcanic tufa. Navajo silversmiths employed steel tools and punches to develop decorative patterns. Early concho belts, bow guards, bracelets, necklaces, horse headstalls, and other items of silver jewelry display massive forms and simple ornamentation. By the 1890s turquoise was increasingly used; although most turquoise was obtained from Southwestern sources, some was imported from China and Iran. Navajo silversmiths rapidly established a distinctive elegant style that has become one of the classic hallmarks of Native American art in the greater Southwest. Today, Navajo jewelry, like that of their neighboring Pueblo neighbors, exhibit much greater complexity of design and the use of diverse semiprecious stones, shell, and a variety of metals.
“Old pawn” jewelry has a special story to tell. Much like the traditional and ancient cultures of the Southwest, vintage American Indian jewelry holds against its heart a great legacy and a pride of a people.These decades-old cuffs, squash blossoms, concho belts, silver-beaded necklaces, buckles and rings skillfully handcrafted by visionary minds and patient hands were not originally made to be put in a display case with a price tag attached. Every piece is a reflection of the person who made it and of the place from which it came.Navajo, predominately, and Hopi and Santo Domingo peoples made the jewelry to wear themselves or to give to friends and family members. They would only “pawn” their beautiful creations when in dire need of something to trade.
