Picked this up at a flea market over the weekend and would like to learn more about it. No signature or purity mark, although it does test as sterling. I thought the rings protruding from each side were unusual as are the silver nuggets set into the front and sides. Any information as to age, maker, tribe, etc., would be greatly appreciated!
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I’m gonna say what I often say, which is that it doesn’t look Native American to me and is highly suspect in that regard. It has definite Asian import features. Someone else will soon post here to dispute this.
The bottom line is, without provenance, something this out of line with normal production will remain a puzzle, and it depends on your goals as a buyer/collector whether that’s good enough.
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Thanks for your thoughts, @chicfarmer. That’s why I come here. I’m still have so much to learn. Can you point out what the Asian import features are?
The only thing that approaches US NA work is the look of the stones. Everything else does not. Start with the conception of the cuff with those open side loops like Tibetan/Mongolian stirrups
the random globular applique toward the terminals
the scrolling, figure 8-ish incising on the top and bottom edges
The spiky bezels on the coral
My math doesn’t add this up to US made.
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Again, thanks for your thoughts, @chicfarmer, but I’m still not convinced it’s not a domestic made piece. It’s not denial or disappointment, but I’ve been in the jewelry trade for 40 years, 12 of it working for a pawn shop, and have seen a lot of import silver and nothing looked like this. Not from Tibet, India, Thailand or China. I have seen other domestic made cuffs with silver nugget inlay as well as rope and scrollwork borders and large and small sawtooth bezels. I agree that those two half loops aren’t like anything I’ve ever seen. I wonder if it’s possibly made domestically “in the style of” N/A 
?
I agree @chicfarmer . Nice interpretation. I also think the silver base plate is a thinner gauge than most NA pieces I’ve seen. I lean towards SE Asia / Middle East area by the main style.
Me too; I also agree with @chicfarmer. I understand you have seen a lot of pieces in your years in the jewelry trade, but how much Asian jewelry that imitates Native work? I can’t put it into words like chicfarmer did (my technical knowledge isn’t particularly good), but … something about it seems …off…for domestic made, ESPECIALLY native made.
I don’t recall seeing any Asian jewelry that looks like Native work, but I defer to you experts. I still have a lot of learning to do! I did pick this cuff up last weekend, also. It’s signed E. S. Mitchell and weighs 4 ounces. I hope this one is authentic or I’m going back to vintage costume jewelry where I probably belongI I shouldn’t stray from what I know, but I want to learn about N/A jewelry so much!
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I LOVE this cuff!! This is made, I believe by Reggie Mitchell’s father, Eugene (not Ernest like I first said). Reggie Mitchell is Navajo, and I met him at the Eiteljorg Indian Art Market, and bought a cuff from him. You can really see how his son (Reggie) was inspired by his father’s (Eugene) work.
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Now this one is a different story. Great cuff!
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Here’s mine made by Reggie.
He (Reggie) talks about learning from his father, and being a 5th generation silversmith, and now his son is working with him, and making a 6th generation.
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Here’s a link to an interesting article about how some of his work had been stolen. This also helps explain why we are so cautious on here; it’s because we don’t want to enable any of this kind of behavior. Native American Artist's Work Stolen, Copied Around the World
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Hiya, the dad is Eugene Mitchell. Gorgeous work by both artists! I’d love to add a good sandcast cuff like the two you and @585925 shared.
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Thanks @Ziacat , @StevesTrail and @chicfarmer ! There’s hope for me yet. Hehe! Thanks for the article and picture of your cuff, Ziacat. That’s a beauty! What a terrible tragedy to have his lead masters stolen! So sad. I love the way my cuff fits and feels once it’s on, but it always leaves a terrible bruise on my wrist knuckle because there is no give to the metal.
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Thanks, I didn’t even catch that, duh-uh 
, even after the numerous articles I have read 
I will blame it on having too much sun this weekend…or maybe I got so excited after I saw her cuff I clean forgot.
@585925 I don’t really want my cuffs to bend, because that can loosen the stones. Besides, now you know you have a sturdy, solid cuff. Remember, no pain, no gain 
On a side note, was just watching the final episode of Dark Winds, and Joe did a bit of tufa casting!
Edit: I corrected the name in above post.
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Thanks, you are so kind! I admit, I’m quite addicted to wearing it…
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I guess I could always sacrifice and take that injurious bracelet off your hands @585925 and save you from being bruised again. 
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I’m afraid I’ll have to keep it, @StevesTrail . It’s for your own protection and will be my cross to bear 
. I really do love how balanced it feels on my wrist. @Ziacat, my queue keeps reminding me to watch Dark Winds. Maybe I’ll binge it this weekend 
.
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It looks like it fits you really well. That’s one of the things I love about mine - the fit. But mine isn’t as heavy, so no bruising for me. At one of the booths at the Art Market where I bought it, a lady was talking about not being able to put on a cuff, and the artist had to show her how to do it. I remember way way back in my early days of shopping for Native American jewelry thinking, there’s a right way and a wrong way to put on a cuff? Fortunately I learned (or maybe unfortunately for the wallet ).
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