There are no visable marks that I see…just an amazing bracelet. Does anyone recognize the work or know (or guess) the time period it was made? It has a waxy substance around the center stone…is that something used when making it? I iwould love to hear your thoughts!
-Shelley
That bead down the center is a style made famous by Preston Monongye. I would guess this is sometime around the 1990s and without the hallmark probably going to be difficult to determine the maker. The stone looks good not sure what the waxy substance would be.
That’s what I was thinking, also. Is there any way to authenticate it without a hallmark?
Thank you for your help!
-Shelley
I believe Jason was referring to the notion of embedding heishi as a center channel as a Monongye concept–not that this bracelet would have been made by him. Since his innovation, other smiths took that as inspiration.
If you mean trying to authenticate this bracelet as being by PM, the silverwork is not in keeping with his techniques. And if Jason’s timeframe is right, Monongye passed away in 1987.
It’s a style called corn rolling. it’s been used at least since the 1930s. Nobody knows exactly where or why. But it has many Navajo hallmarks. file and cut. The large stone . The rope wire. The style of stone. I would safely bet its Navajo with a huge zuni influence
Hopi influence. Not zuni
Thank you so much for giving me a new avenue to look into Newby. I’m going to continue my search since I believe it might have a bit more age…thanks for the feedback.
-Shelley
It could possibly go back to the 1930s or 40s. Very little work was stamped or marked back then. Which as much silver work as this piece has would definitely be Navajo with a hopi influence. Hopi learned silversmithing from the Navajo around the turn of the century. but the hopi style is entirely different from Navajo. If you look at your bracelet and the example given in the 2nd picture you notice number 2 has a lot less silver. that and the big slab of turquoise is what is indicative of Navajo. at one time during late 30s through early 40s the hopi style began to really catch on and would often be copied by the Navajo. Hopi and zuni jewelry even began to surpass the Navajo jewelry market for a time. These hybrids are very valuable now. It was only a short time before the Navajo began using coral turquoise and doing very intricate work. Silver leaves, vines, and the rain drops. This has remained a huge portion of the market even today.
Can you post some pics of the inside of the cuff? The stone looks like it has some age. Maybe royston because of the green look. but has almost a morenci water web feel to it. Or spider web lone mountain. looks very similar to one I have. Ive been told its either lone mountain or morenci water web.
Its certainly has some age. it almost looks like Ingot to me. Or its just been worn to death one. it’s certainly a wonderful bracelet. And very interesting. it would be almost impossible to nail it down. It also could only be around 20 yrs old and been poorly maintained giving a much older appearance. Or its old and just showing its age. A piece of this magnitude is odd to be unmarked made after the 1950s when stamping and marking became standardized. that is why I think it could be quite old.
It has a waxy substance around the center stone that makes me think it hasn’t been worn much. I wish you were close by…I’d bring it over 
Thank you for your validation…it’s amazing and well built.
-Shelley
Could the waxy substance merely be something that someone may have tried to clean or preserve the stone with? I have certainly heard of people thinking that.
Also, seems like I had read at some point that waxes were used in some way to stabilize a stone? Or animal fat was used back in the day to stabilize a turquoise?
It’s not particularly old, and certainly 2nd half of the twentieth century. If stabilized, the stone would be from a commercial process and not hand done by an individual maker.
To my eye it looks like sheet silver. There’s a small chance it could be rolled ingot (and thus not hand forged), but detailed pics are needed to confirm this.
Yes I believe it comes down to it looks old from poor maintenance. I’ve seen it quite a bit. Hard to tell from the pics
