Eagle dancer (?) brooch/pendant

I would greatly appreciate your help in identifying this older (?) brooch/pendant (there’s a bail on the back of the topmost turquoise). Do you think this is an authentic Navajo piece? Any idea who “HL” is? And, maybe the toughest question :laughing: any opinions on what type of turquoise this might be?
Thank you in advance!

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Helen Long. She specialized in this style of pieces and bolo ties.

This is a great example of her work. She was active in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Her son is continuing the tradition.
Her works sell for hundreds for bracelets to about $2000.00 for Kachina style bolo ties.

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@fernwood, thank you. I did wonder if it might be Helen Long’s, but wasn’t confident of the mark. (I don’t have access to any of the reference books on silver marks, and had heard that some of the online references can include errors.) So I hope this is the case :crossed_fingers:

Either way, I loved the design and decided to take a gamble. And for me a brooch/pendant is much more versatile than a bolo tie, so that was a distinct plus!

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