I received two of the same Ray Manley Booklets from my mother in law. If anyone would like it for free, they can have it, Also have 4 vintage postcards from Flying W Ranch from Colorado Springs….free.
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Just purchased this book after reviewing it through an interlibrary loan. @chicfarmer is correct. This book has it all - organized timelines, useful information, and wonderful photography. Highly recommended x 2!
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@TAH Thanks for posting this! Glad to hear you used the interlibrary loan system🙂. My hubby often uses that feature. Good to know this book is well worth the purchase. I’ll be looking into that.
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I will submit a third recommendation for Paula Baxter’s Navajo and Pueblo Jewelry Design, 1870 - 1945. It is an absolutely fine resource and one of my personal favorites.
Equally important for those of us that tend to lean toward the earlier era of silver and turquoise adornment is John Adair’s The Navajo and Pueblo Silversmiths, 1944.
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Well, Guess I’ll add a forth recommendation! All Paula’s books are well done, but this one is a treasure!
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thank you to those who made the recent recommendations on resource books. I consider myself still wet behind the ears when it comes to knowing native jewelry and the history behind them. I love books and especially ones with beautiful photos that attend the explanations.
I am adding the Paula books to my growing list of books to track down on the cheap. I am still suprised at how expensive some books can get but appreciate the content those deliver.
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I’m always so impressed with how “readable” Adair’s book is—particularly the sections where he focuses on technical process, like the construction of the ketoh over a few of the earlier pages. I probably learned more from this single book than a dozen others combined, even with limited photography. I first read it in an art history course in undergrad and still dip in just for the sense of “place” he manages even when deep-diving into what is otherwise quite dry—and frequently dated—anthropology.
Per the latter: fortunately, as disciplines, both anthropology and art history have moved on from the term “primitive” and attendant problems (like monolithic curatorial departments that group African, Indigenous American, and Oceanic arts into a singularity, as though being neither European nor Asian somehow means they are interrelated on some deeper level). I imagine that if Adair were alive today, he would have welcomed and likely championed these developments in the field(s), given how clearly apparent his genuine respect and admiration for his subjects, their histories, and their labor.
Side note: QUITE jealous of your specific edition. The paperback copy I picked up at the Wheelwright years ago looks like it was printed in a home office! The pictures are nearly invisible!
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While reading an article, this book, “Navajo and Pueblo Jewelry and metalwork 1880 - 1950” (the Druckman collection), by Robert Bauver was referenced. I’d love to find a copy; do any of you know of or have this book?
@Bmpdvm I do. It’s fun, almost entirely color photos of one guy’s collection. But if you’ve seen, for example, Awa Tsireh’s works and 1940s quirky animal/figural pins in print, you don’t get any more more out of this. Four Winds Gallery sells it, or they used to.
Bob Bauver is a great resource. More informational are his Navajo and Pueblo earrings book and also his spoons book, because they deal with the dispersion of silverwork throughout the region and also the impact of the curio trade.They’re specialized, for sure.
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Thanks @chicfarmer! I should have known you’d have it! Yes Four Winds does have it, and for a reasonable price; I’ll order one. I love the figurative pins on the cover of this book! Thanks for the additional info, I did notice his earrings book, I’ll look for that one too. Happy New Year to you and your family🎉.
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For those who may collect other types of jewelry… I found this book at an indoor flea market today. It’s rare for me to find a jewelry (resource) book in-the-wild. I have a small collection of vintage Mexican jewelry so I’m happy to add this gem to my library. (First published in 1963.)
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I found some books/magazines in my travels lately. From local thrift stores and antique mall.
I know some of you have these already.
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I really need to get the AZ Highways ones. They are having their 100th year anniversary this year, and mentioned how this issue (the one with the cow skull) came about.
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@Ziacat
When I was a kid, my Dad was a collector/dealer of militaria and guns. He would regularly attend a huge show at a local convention center in PA.
There was always this dealer from AZ who had a huge display of NA jewelry. The guy had this exact issue of Arizona Highways (with the skull) in his showcase, and I was smitten. I was 10 years old at the time, it was 1974.
So when I saw it yesterday in the antique mall, I pounced!
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Beautiful memories @Stracci I’m so happy you found it.
Your story reminds me of a sale I made recently. I have way more Breyer and Peter Stone Horses than I care to mention. A couple of years ago I decided to list some on craigslist. One of the horses I listed was Black Gold, a famous race horse and a Marguerite Henry book. He won the 50th running of the Kentucky Derby back in 1924. The jockey was JD Mooney. Lo and behold the gal that drove several hours from MD to buy the model horse was kin to the jockey, granddaughter, IIRC. She had been looking for one for several years.
Now back to our jewelry conversation.
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Arizona Highways is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. In the April article (I think) they featured stand-out writers, photographers, artists, and issues. They had this info on the famous turquoise article.
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Thanks for posting this, Zia! I have that issue. The front cover is a real eye catcher. I have two or three more AH issues from the 1970s that are dedicated to jewelry. Do you know if the magazine still occasionally features jewelry or was that just a 70s thing?
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Hmmm …that’s an interesting question. I’ve been a subscriber since the late '80s, and I don’t recall any issue that totally focused on jewelry. However I feel like there’s been a couple issues through the decades that focused on Native American artists (not just jewelry). And I know they’ve had numerous single articles over the years. Would you believe I don’t own any of those '70s turquoise issues? I need to get them someday.
I used to keep all my issues till about 15 yrs ago I decided I just couldn’t hang on to that many, so I only kept my favorites. Eventually I’ll try to look through them, and see if I see anything. I also used to subscribe to New Mexico Magazine, and they had a fair number of articles on jewelry, but they kind of annoyed me enough that I eventually unsubscribed. I probably kept some of those also. Maybe a rainy day project for me 
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