This was a bolo with a broken clasp that was with a group I purchased for resale. Due to its size, I thought it would make a great pendant. Since I didn’t want to remove all the turquoise, my jeweler suggested this combination of hard soldering the hook to a SS disc, then soft soldering the disc to the bobo/pendant. I think this is great example of creative conversion with patina he applied and the hammering of the disc:
9 Likes
Wonderful job, @Bmpdvm ! And a lovely way to repurpose a bolo. I’ll bet it looks fantastic worn as a pendant.
3 Likes
@Bmpdvm Kudos to your jeweler! He/She did a fabulous job on the bolo conversion. It sure makes for a pretty pendant. Hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of wearing it.
5 Likes
I was considering doing something similar with a similar snake bolo! Did you give any thought to which end to mount the bale on? I was considering putting it on the smaller end of mine! As a bolo it was oriented with the large end up but I kinda like it with the coral on top and the snake facing down!
4 Likes
What a cool bolo! I would think if the bale is wider it would be fine at either end. I had a small Hopi buckle that I never wore, so I had it converted, and now I wear it a lot. It hangs really well, and it’s pretty wide. I think if you get your bolo converted you will love it!
I think your bolo would look great either way …
6 Likes
@AC Nice! I really like snake jewelry. I’m with you ~ place the bail on the smaller end, coral on top & snake slithering downward 
.
1 Like
Hi @AC. I like your idea! With mine, I oriented it the same way as the bolo. Sounds like you are doing the same thing. Regardless, I agree the snake is better “slithering” down than up! It’s great to repurpose these wonderful older pieces!
The other decision I had to make is weather to add a shepherds hook or an attached bale (as in Ziacats pendent). Since mine was a larger piece, I went with the shepherds hook. Then I could use a handmade chain, slip it between beads, or attach it to a bale to accommodate beads or other options. Over the years I’ve had several different size bales made to use with a shepherd’s hook.
Is this a Juan or Effie Calabaza piece?
Oops, didn’t realize my snake is slithering up…I hadn’t thought about that😆
1 Like
TBH, I sent mine to the store, and gave them free reign. I was very glad that they put on a large bail (sheperd’s hook would have worked just as well) so that I can wear it on pretty much everything.
1 Like
Hi @Bmpdvm It’s not marked but It looks a lot like the work of Dan Simplicio’s brother Mike Simplicio. He’s made some with the same background stippling and the same border as well as similar looking bezels and stampwork on the snakes body! The only thing is, the eyes are small cabochons that are bulbous instead of being flush like all the others of his work that I’ve seen. I’ve wondered if they had been replaced. I looked but never found any snakes by Jaun Calavasa with the same stamping on the snakes body.
3 Likes
I knew Dan Simplicio did snakes…I have a couple pieces by him, but no snakes! I’m not as familiar with Mike’ work, but your association by style of snake and background makes sense. I looked up Mike and found an example in Schaff I with the similarities you mention and a similar head…good catch! Those larger turquoise eyes are very interesting!
2 Likes