@Ziacat Thanks! I had seen another Bighorn sheep pin that I also wanted but, apparently missed out on it. Two days later, I can’t find it at any of my online haunts. Several years ago when we were in Badlands National Park, SD, all my husband wished for was to see Bighorn sheep. Naturally, there were none to be found, lol. That ram in your photo is majestic ~ maybe he was the model for my pin…
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Thanks! The turquoise heart pin is larger than I was expecting so that was a pleasant surprise. There’s just something about that Bighorn sheep pin that called to me.
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I’m so glad you found this one! I hope it’s better 
I really love its curved shape. If you got an adapter, maybe you could also wear it as a pendant.
I’m sorry that your husband didn’t see any at Badlands; we were there in 2020, and saw a bunch (but no rams). This picture is from Colorado National Monument, on the border of CO and UT where my nephew is the park superintendent. We saw big horn sheep everywhere in that park. This guy did not like it that we were snapping photos of his harem, and he clambered down the rocks and glared at us, which worked for a perfect picture!
One year we were in Zion hiking the Observation Point trail, and a ram ran right down the side of the cliff and across the trail in front of us! Fortunately my niece who was along thought quickly to take a video.
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A few recent purchases to share. Turquoise earrings hallmarked for “W Denetdale(Will), Navajo”. Middle earrings hallmarked for “Peter Nelson” (Navajo). Hougart’s 3rd edition NA hallmarks book shows IAIA & multiple award winner for Peter Nelson. The extra long earrings on the right, featuring a Rain Bird design, are hallmarked for Walter Polelonema (Hopi). Active 1920s-1971 (deceased). Rattlesnake rattle hallmark + Hopi Guild mark. Polelonema was in the Hopi Guild class of 1949-1951 under the GI Bill. The Nelson & Polelonema earrings each came with a Certificate of Authenticity from the gallery.
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Nice! I have an item from Polelonema…I didn’t know his hallmark was a rattlesnake tail! And I didn’t know that was a rain bird.
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So here’s what’s tricky. There are two artists that use a rattlesnake mark. Walter Polelonema, and Raymie Naminga. I’m assuming that @Patina knows hers is by Walter Polelonema, because it also has a guild mark (and she has paperwork that says so). I have earrings that have the rattlesnake, but do not have the guild mark so I believe mine are by Raymie Naminga. So you can’t just assume the rattlesnake mark is by Walter Polelonema. My Hopi Silversmithing book says that Raymie learned at Hopicrafts, and uses the mark of his maternal uncle, Walter. After 1988 he began using NR. I assume mine is by Raymie, because it doesn’t have a guild mark, and he’s younger (Walter died in '71).
The writing on the page is just because years ago I was trying to figure out which artist made my earrings.
Love all the earrings!
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What a beautiful sunface.
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Oh @Patina I love your Hopi pieces, especially the corn stock motif! But that bighorn sheep pin…should have known it was by the Lee family!! I love pins, especially big horn sheep. Years ago when we were on a rafting trip on the Green River (Gates of Lenore), we were hiking and came around a bend in the trail head and met head on with acouple large bighorn rams! We were both suprised, but what a memory! So, I can’t pass up a Ram pin when I have a chance!
Congrats on your new pieces, they’re wonderful!
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You have some great rings; this one is my favorite…fabulous!
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I looked for my rattlesnake hallmark and it’s on one of my favorite pins/pendants. The website we always use has both names under the hallmark. I guess one could use both names if you are trying to sell it. But I’m keeping mine… Hougart’s book does not say that it needs a hopicraft hallmark.
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I remember that pin. Love, love it!
I don’t sell my stuff, but I agree with you that if I did I would mention that I just don’t know which artist it was - father or son. My book doesn’t say Walter’s has to have a Hopi Guild mark either; I just meant if it’s got one you could probably say more positively that it’s Walter’s work.
I don’t really know exactly what made me think mine is by Raymie, other than I just assume the father’s pieces are more uncommon since they would be older. I guess if I really wanted to know I could try to call the Hopi Cultural Center, but it doesn’t matter that much to me which one made it. I got it at the Eiteljorg, but I don’t think the receipt said who the artist was.
I mostly brought it up, because I thought it was interesting (and confusing) that they have the same mark.
On a side note, one of the things I noticed wrong on the Amerindian website was regarding a Hopi artist. The artist of one of my Hopi rings is listed as Navajo. That’s why I refer so much to this book.
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Beautiful!! I have some earrings by Joe Delgarito; maybe they are related. I would have never guessed Damale (and no, I would not have guessed Kingman 
).
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Thanks. I only knew it was Damale as it was stated with the bracelet. Im not good enough to tell on my own.
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That is a beautiful piece! 
Congratulations on your purchase.
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@StevesTrail
This cuff is a stunner!
Just beautiful
Two of the stones were loose and one fell out. I removed them and found that he had used spiny oyster shell pieces as filler. Definitely would not compress like sawdust so I left some out, replaced the stones and tightened the bezels. Someone should let him know to switch or leave filler out.
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I recently purchased these 2 bead necklaces. The earrings I bought several months ago. Even though I rarely wear necklaces anymore, I decided that I wanted to create complementary “sets” of this jewelry to wear. I especially enjoy that this jewelry is all lightweight! Necklaces end-to-end measure: fluted = 29.5", the other = 25".
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I like those middle earrings!
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