As I’m learning and studying about NA jewellery, I was just wondering if this is a Zuni cuff, everything think about the cuff screams Zuni. But I’m not sure just yet, I think it’s a trading post cuff?
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By the way, is there an artist hallmark? I see that a Portobello Road (London) seller claims it’s Zuni, but I suspect that’s storytelling.
Multiples of the same are floating around, mostly attributed to a Navajo maker. (Hougart’s has no Janice Spencer.)
https://jessiewestern.com/products/zuni-bracelet-1
https://www.dakotaskystone.com/product/sleeping-beauty-turquoise-bracelet-9/?add-to-cart=80994
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWyxvs5jNtP/?img_index=1 (South Africa seller)
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Looks like production work, using millimeter sleeping beauty rounds, or possibly block. Stones could also be hand cut, but from the finish and visual texture this seems far less likely. Once again, items in this price range and quality rarely have verifiable provenance, and there are mountains of fake Native American jewelry coming out of asia, and being distributed worldwide. Honestly Luke, if you stay in this price range buying these items wherever you find them from internet and other resellers, the odds of buying anything with verifiable origin or provenance is close to absolute zero. You might get lucky once in a blue moon, but you’ll spend a fortune on other items before you do. Your best bet if you want inexpensive veriifiably Native American Jewelry is to purchase directly in small lots from a reputable US trading company like Perry Null in Gallup NM or Palms Trading Co, in Albuquerque. I have to ask. Are you buying this stuff for resale, and looking for descriptions? If you are, just open up a wholesale account with reputable dealers here in the US like the one’s mentioned above. Many will actually give you guarantees in writing,
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I actually got a Joblot from an auction house, but I do normally buy well known native work like Begey, Yazzie and so on from well known dealers, I’ve got a contact in Santa Fe and a silversmith called Ben j Chavez but the problem is the price of the shipping that is killing me, but I will check them out!
I’m actually looking for someone to send me some turquoise to fix my squash blossom I have
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Provided the.lots are of sufficient size, I think you may find that US prices from truly reputable sources like Palms Trading, especially with a wholesale account, can more than offset the cost of international shipping. For Turquoise check with @Bluegreen , one of our forum members from the Netherlands who cuts turquoise and does beautiful work. May be a great resource for you a bit closer to home.
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That’s great, I’ll have a look at those, being here in the uk, you’ve just gotta take a gamble at an auction and see if it’s hallmarked or not, thank you very much
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Thank you kindly for the recommendation @mmrogers i appreciate it!
And i can really relate with what @BigCountryUK writes about the intercontinental shipping fees being a bit of an issue.
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Even with some of the prices of the pieces being made, the shipping kills you! I got sent over the billie hougart 5th edition and another NA book and it cost $100 
and with the UK and I don’t know with Europe the market is really small, so you ain’t making enough money to warrant the shipping
@Bluegreen is it possible you could fix the Naja at all?
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@BigCountryUK Yes it can be a pain for sure and on top of that i can take months for things to arrive. I still place orders sometimes though, but mainly small quantities of rough turquoise from private sellers.
In theory i feel that i could fix your Naja, but i don’t think i should. I’m a hobbyist plus a newbie and never even touched a squash blossom necklace in real life, let alone repaired one.
Perhaps a better, for me less daunting, scenario might be that i try and figure out a way where you could provide accurate measurements of the missing stones without sending the entire piece and that i cut replacements for you.
Based on the photos you posted i feel that i do have rough turquoise that has the same characteristics and color as your necklace (e.g. Kings Manassa, or Kingman). Afterwards you could perhaps have a professional jeweler in the UK finish the job and set the stones. Just a thought though. I think the piece is very beautiful btw.
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Yeah I’m the same, im waiting on a few bits to arrive now, I’ve found a store that puts the items for you through eBay and it works out a little bit cheaper!
I feel like sending the blossom, it could get damaged, you know what people are like, especially these delivery people, that sounds awesome, what a great hobby
I was gonna suggest if we can measure a stone or the gap it goes in, that would work, I’ve got a jeweller here in the uk who could set it for me
Thanks
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I completely understand, it’s been a bit hit or miss over here in the past with the quality of deliveries, but luckily it’s been going well again lately.
Perhaps it’ll be easier to switch to pm to further discuss the best and easiest way to proceed.
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