This is posted on FB marketplace for $600. Any thoughts on authenticity?
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Just my opinion, but it looks good to me.
If that is a copy, then someone quite talented went to a lot of trouble to make it. But, just my opinion
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@StevesTrail IDK, I’m on the fence about this. My Hougart’s hallmarks book shows a Thomas Singer hallmark on a raised “platform”. But, Hougart’s example more resembles the one that @Steve has posted. Meaning, the edges of the little platform are rounded, not square like your example. That one thing makes me pause. Also, the letters/spacing in the name in your photo look slightly off to Hougart’s example, imo.
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Don’t you love mystery. Thanks for all the input. I tend to lean more toward authentic but other TS bolos being sold have silver tips (this is assuming the ones on the internet are authentic - and that’s why I’m confused and wanted input). Knowing he was a master of chip inlay, these tips look great but the only ones. So is this a rare piece? The stamps and design look similar but I would have thought he would have taken better care to orient the signature plate better.
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I’d buy it just for the tips…they are fantastic!
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I definitely lean towards it being legit. Since he did the chip inlay earlier in his career, I wonder if it’s just an older piece than the ones with no chip inlay.
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Signature plate! Now, I know what it’s called. Yeah, that signature plate looks haphazard & slapped-on like an afterthought. Just my 2 cents worth.
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the applied plate on the faceflop bolo seems unusual and additional closeup photos should be requested as well as full back images showing the bolo leather connection points.
the squash blossoms on the tips DO NOT look original and seem to have been replaced at some point in time.
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I compared the plates as well and did not like the difference in the letter font and the addition of the caricature to the right of the name. Maybe a Thomas Frankensinger bolo 
. I’m hoping @mmrogers might have some input.
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I couldn’t say with any degree of certainty one way or another without many additional pieces for comparison, @StevesTrail . Style is certainly made to look like Singer’s, and his shop used a variety of different signature stamps, not all of which may be documented. The work is certainly professional.
His jewelry was wildly popular in the 70s, the merchandise was everywhere, and it’s likely the entire family, and maybe some close friends were involved in cottage industry style production of his collections. Navajos traditionally use brass or copper templates to trace out and reproduce their work, and while these templates usually stay with the silversmith, in a workshop or cooperative setting, they can be shared between several people producing the same or similar works.
While some or most of the signature stamps are catalogued, I doubt anyone has made a serious effort to document the design stamps used in the production of Singer’s jewelry over the years. These stamps are all individually handmade, and in that sense each one is as individual as a fingerprint, no two are exactly alike. If I were a serious collector, I’d take close up photos of the stamps used across a variety of works known to be made by a particular artist, and compare those to stamps used for pieces that show up down the line represented as that artist’s work.
This can be a tall order though for someone as prolific as Singer. If 20 or 30 people or more were involved in the production of works over the years bearing his various signature stamps, you’re likely to have a mix of 20 or 30 different sets of hand made stamps used in the creation of works bearing his name.
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Thanks Mike! One interpretation from your history is that it could have come from his shop although not necessarily made by him.
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Considering the sheer volume and variety of merchandise produced by Singer’s workshop over the years, I’d say that’s a pretty good bet, @StevesTrail.
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Perhaps the individual initial stamps were used by him personally on items he made and the signature plates might by “shop” marks.
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No telling without first hand insider information on how things were done within his workshop, or organization.
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Interesting. Looks like they used nickel #8 1/2 round for the bolo slide findings in the same fashion as the other bolo on this thread. I see no reason to doubt this came from Singer’s shop, or at least the same shop as the other bolo…
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I know it wasn’t asked, but the price is essentially high retail.
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