Dig It - 1/1/24

Happy New Year Fellow Seekers! So happy you could join me for another foray into the fascinating and often confusing world Early Navajo Silver. Now I’m not implying that the early Navajo silversmiths were at all confused, it is we, the contemporary Non-Navajo collectors who seem at times to be so confused.

Today we are going to look at a flattened top triangular bangle, set with three very unusual turquoise cabochons. My guess is that this bracelet is fairly early, let’s say 1910 to maybe the 1930s. The foundation is unquestionably ingot silver, as evident from the scaling on the back, and the smith has hammered it flat and filed it into shape to mount the center circular stone and two oval cabochons. The stones appear to be professionally cut, and I DIG the shades of greens and blues in the stones. Most of the cabochons were cut and polished in Europe or the Eastern U.S., and then sold to the trading post out here in the Southwest. These cabochons were expensive and were usually given to the very best Silversmiths for mounting. I love this bracelet. It is 5.75” from terminal to terminal, with a 1” gap. Buy this now and be the envy of all your friends!