Hi. This necklace was purchased at OB’s Indian America in Gallup in the early 80s. I’m wondering if it’s a copy, machine or handmade, and how much it may be worth. Thanks.
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Welcome @pamelakripke! Nice fetish necklace. I’m not familiar with the Gallup location where you purchased your necklace. The Zuni are famous for producing the best fetishes, and necklaces, but fetishes and fetish necklaces are also made by Navajo and non-native individuals. These are frequently referred to as “fakes” but some are better than others. The individual fetishes on your necklace do not appear machine made and may have been hand made. But a lot of these are made overseas and strung on heishi by native Americans. In my opinion, yours is likely Navajo made. Importantly, these should not be represented as “Zuni.”
I’m attaching information about fetish necklaces from the Keshi Foundation, group promoting authentic Zuni arts. (Keshi is a Zuni term translated as “welcome.”
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Thank you so much. I had seen the images that you describe and thought it could be Navajo-made. If I was to resell it, what would you suggest as a price?
I have a similar necklace, also from OB in Gallup, early 1990s. When I did some digging, I found the attached link that seems relevant, that this Navajo work https://www.adobegallery.com/art/zuni-pueblo-multi-stone-three-strand-fetish-necklace
These types of necklaces have more natural looking stones than some I saw in later years, which looked like dyed imports, just my opinion of course 
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I read the link that @tepowell posted about a fetish necklace. I’m not familiar with Frank Turpen, his family, or his history/legacy. Was Turpen, his wife, sons & daughter Native American? More specifically, Navajo?
I have read quite a bit about a lot of the early traders in the Four Corners area, but haven’t been able to find much about Frank Turpen other than the Bear Toes necklaces which are discussed occasionally on the Facebook site featuring Pueblo jewelry (I’m not on Facebook, but I can look at it through my husband’s account) and this article. I don’t believe he was Navajo, but I don’t know about his partner or family. Turpen was a pretty well-known name in the trading community; Tobe Turpen was the name of Perry Null (I apologize if you already know this, but the op may not).
So @Jason, do you have any knowledge about this gentleman and this business? And was Frank Turpen related to Tobe Turpen? I couldn’t find anywhere that he was, but I’m not always the best internet sleuth.
I’m also not familiar with OB in Gallup. It is also not listed in my pretty thorough Trading Post guide book. But then maybe has a name other than OB?
Another thing I found has info on Stacey, Frank’s son, a member of the Navajo “Bitter Water” clan. https://www.howlingmoontraders.com/indian-artists/stacy-turpen/
Our friendly AI says Frank Turpen was Tobe Turpen’s brother.
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I was trying to find out if they were related and couldn’t. Thanks! However I haven’t read anywhere that Tobe Turpen is Native American. So maybe our friendly AI isn’t correct?
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@ziacat, OB’s (some of it may have been spelled out, can’t remember?) Was a large NA store on the main drag in Gallup, early 90s when I was there. My dad had a small NA store/gallery here in AL, and all the jewelry came from OB…I had a wonderful time in the vault one time 
OB shrank and eventually closed late 90s I’d guess.
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Interesting that it wasn’t in the guidebook, but then it’s pretty selective. I imagine there are a lot of shops in Gallup that it didn’t cover. I can’t find anywhere that Tobe Turpen was Native American, and I read quite a bit on his history. I also can’t find anywhere that Frank Turpen was his brother. If they are brothers maybe Frank Turpen married a Navajo woman. I just wish I could find more info.
Thank you for this additional information. I may be incorrect, but I believe that in Navajo introductions, the person’s mother’s clan is stated first. Perhaps Eva was Navajo 
. (Perhaps Frank Turpen was not Native American.)
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Bingo. Exactly what I was thinking.
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Many of us on here are not comfortable giving appraisals on price, especially if it’s not for sure Native American made.
I found info on Stacey’s brother Dwayne, as well… says only that he was born for the Bitter Water clan, so that fits.
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I would still like to hear from Jason if there is any relationship between Tobe Turpen and Frank Turpen. I can’t find it anywhere; not sure that our friendly AI didn’t just make a connection with the last names.
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I wouldn’t be a bit surprised by that, @Ziacat !
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So maybe we’re still a little smarter than AI at this point 
That’s really cool that your dad had a Native American jewelry store.
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Speaking for myself, I know I am!! I was a research librarian for many years 
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I would be disinclined to attribute this necklace to Navajo carvers without real info, and for sure if the member is thinking about reselling she must be cautious about how it’s described. Getting into five strands is a bit of a red flag, and all that penshell heishi always makes me question handmade Native work vs. import, machine-done work.
For what it’s worth, no Turpen hallmark appears in Hougart’s or Art-Amerindien.
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Turpen’s sons were some of the carvers for Bear Toes it seems… breadcrumbs are leading us to suspect their mother was Dine, Bitter Water clan. Stacey and Dwayne are still active, it appears.
By far the prudent thing is to be circumspect with any claims about what it is and isn’t!