Hello, hoping to learn more about this Native piece. Thank you for looking!
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Marvelous! I love the skill!
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Referring to this piece as ‘Native’ without established provenance is incorrect, and potentially misleading. This was made during a period (likely the 70’s), when numerous smiths, native and non-native alike were producing items like this on a production scale.
This particular necklace is made with a combination of cast and handcrafted components using what looks like a standardized style sheet, or design template which is typical of the type of pieces described above.
Why don’t you start with how you came to own this piece, and what you’ve been told about it?
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Thank you for your comments. I know very little about the piece. It was sold to me by a well respected and knowledgeable vintage jewelry dealer from Los Angeles with over forty years in the business. She did tell me it was a 70s piece as well. I have tested it and it is silver and the stones appear to be genuine turquoise, not block or molded resin pieces. The mine of where the stones are from is unknown as expected. The silver stamping and design elements are common for the period. That said, during my research I did find comps almost identical to my piece on line with no marks. I have reached out to several Native American establishments, sellers and appraisers who all have been unable to identify the mark. I am hoping that someone on this forum can help. Again, thank you for your input. It is appreciated.
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Thank you! Do you have any suggestions of who the maker’s mark might be? I have reached out to numerous Native American authorities, but without much luck. Do you have any other information or suggestions you can share that may help. All the best!
Hello, I am new and not sure my original reply to you message arrived to your inbox. I have included it below. Sorry for the confusion.
Thank you for your comments. I know very little about the piece. It was sold to me by a well respected and knowledgeable vintage jewelry dealer from Los Angeles with over forty years in the business. She did tell me it was a 70s piece as well. I have tested it and it is silver and the stones appear to be genuine turquoise, not block or molded resin pieces. The mine of where the stones are from is unknown as expected. The silver stamping and design elements are common for the period. That said, during my research I did find comps almost identical to my piece on line with no marks. I have reached out to several Native American establishments, sellers and appraisers who all have been unable to identify the mark. I am hoping that someone on this forum can help. Again, thank you for your input. It is appreciated.
You might get lucky and find a reference to the hallmark from a recognized source, but honestly chances are extremely slim at best. What you want to avoid is using hearsay or conjecture as provenance. If you’re intending to sell it, stick with what you can prove, silver quality, general stone type ( e.g. ‘turquoise’) , and style (southwestern).
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Point well taken. I do plan on selling it, but the unknown maker’s mark has proven to be more of a hindrance than a selling point. Thank you.
No, I am an absolute beginner with a failing memory.
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Well, then sell the mystery. “Unknown artist”, you searched high and low, but while the work is beautiful and clearly the work of an expert hand, the name of the artist behind the unique hallmark remains a mystery. With a little imagination the copy writes itself.
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Thank you, Steve. I appreciate your help!
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I don’t understand. I was asking for any other input regrading your thoughts on the piece you might have that you would share. I’m looking to you and others on this forum because of you expertise.
@Thomdec Hi ~ If I may, @mgaudet1 is a new Member to this forum like yourself. This Member has honestly shared that he’s an absolute beginner. I understand this to mean that while he admires the skill involved to create your station necklace, he doesn’t necessarily have answers to your questions or suggestions about it. I’m neither a beginner nor an expert, and I don’t have helpful info to offer, either. Two of our valued Members have provided knowledgeable and helpful information here. Good luck on your continued research of that hallmark.
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@Patina thank you for the clarification, I was afraid that I had offended @mgaudet1. I belong to a number of groups, but forums are new to me. I am still learning forum etiquette and reading between the lines. In fact, I’m still trying to find the prompt to “sign out” as I navigate through the process. All my best!
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Thanks! The details you’ve shared have been very helpful. I have a few pieces I’m looking forward to posting that have me puzzled. More to come!
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it sounds like the marketing is key for this piece.The necklace is substantial and makes a statement. Determining the type of turquoise will help. I don’t think it’s been stableized, but I’m not sure. What do you think?
@Thomdec It’s about more than simple choice of marketing terms, it’s about actually obeying vs. violating federal law. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act prohibits any seller from stating material to be Native American in origin if it’s not definitely so:
”The Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA) of 1990 (P.L. 101-644) is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in the marketing of Indian art and craft products within the United States. It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell, any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States.”
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I realized that I made an error in my post. Technically, the necklace shown isn’t a squash blossom necklace as there are no blossoms present. It’s referred to as a station necklace. (I was able just now to correct my post.)
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