Thank you for continuing to give me advice! I did contact Thunderbird and they do believe it is a H. Spencer piece. He is now retired. They said he made bolos with the eagles for them and he did not always use the arrow over his stamp. I feel better now with my decision. Thanks again
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According to experts, H. Spencer did not work with block either. I’m really enjoying learning so much about this beautiful jewelry, it’s truly an art form.
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I wonder if the eagle part of the necklace anyway is something mass produced (like the silver buffalo heads that end up in a lot of pieces), since I have seen so many that seem the same, especially with different hallmarks. Mary Livingston is one of the other names associated with them. Maybe the artists buy the eagles to add to the jewelry in the same way sometimes they use the pre-made inlay ovals.
The eagle in the bolo maybe isn’t block, but looks stabilized and possibly treated to my eye.
@Red5 I guess the answer for you is, do you love it enough to spend 400$ for it.
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I’m not sure about mass production. I was just told he made the eagles for his pieces sold through Thunderbird.
Also, yes, I think it’s stabilized
And I was only talking about the eagle, not the silver work. But when you see stuff like this that have different artists supposedly…
It’s hard to think that the turquoise is handmade. And there’s more than just what I took a screenshot of. This was discussed on the Pueblo jewelry Facebook site (I can’t remember the exact name of it off hand) many times at length. I’m not on Facebook but occasionally I’ll get on my husband’s account and read up.
Again I’m not saying that this particular bolo is not Native made, and it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy it if you don’t love it. It’s just best to know what you’re buying. Especially if you ever plan to resell.
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And you can also make an offer.
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I love that you have taken the time to give me opinion and information! Thank you. Yes, I’m asking for a lower price with all this information. I generally am not an “eagle” lover, but do like this one. It is a big bolo 
you notice it from a distance. So, that is a stray from what I usually would buy as well.
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I’m asking for a lower price.
Good luck! I hope they will come down in price for you.
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These started showing up in Gallup in the late 70s, and by the early 80s they were everywhere. Likely Philippines production, and probably from Dave Freeland Senior’s shop. The bola looks like an import too. Everything designed in advance and made to template. Freeland sourced his materials in the US, and shipped them over to Asia. I remember having a conversation with Jim Guthrie, manager at Indian Jewelers Supply about whether we could identify the foreign stuff Freeland was making by testing differences in the silver alloys. Guthrie laughed and said “No, because he buys it all from us”.
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Thanks for the info. It just seemed like these eagles couldn’t be handmade when they are all over the Internet.
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It’s exhausting. SMH.
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Update! I never bought it. After learning more from you all, I reconsidered. Thank you!!!
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