Talking about chip inlay: If you're thinking of buying a piece

[Mspamelamarie]

@TaraFawn75 This is a Delvin Nelson, I think! What’s your opinion?

[Mspamelamarie]

@TaraFawn75 Aww, Sorry but thanks for your kind words! It could be too small, it’s a 5.5, so that’s my size, I hope it works! Ty, Pan

[Mikeschiestel]

[Mikeschiestel]

Hoping you can assist. My dear friend passed and he left me this Bracelet and ring. He got it in the early 1970’s in the southwest somewhere. I would love to know more if you could help.

[Val1969]

hello, this post is old but while looking for information on the chip inlay I arrived here! I just bought this pendant

[Ziacat]

Love it! A little peyote bird.
He looks a bit like one on my only chip inlay piece - a cuff.

[AC]

I’m thinking that’s a Tommy Singer hallmark.

[TryingToLearn]

Yep, This is Tommy Singer. I know because I have one too…

[Caro]

Hi! This chip inlay cuff was part of a lot I bought. It’s clearly fake (not silver, sloppy stamping, suspicious uniform color of chips, etc.). It’s signed “T” so I’m thinking it’s an early Tommy Singer knock off (early 1970s?). The type of pesky Chinese made imitations that prompted him to move on from chip inlay… Do I own a piece of Navajo jewelry counterfeiting history? Has any of you encountered one like this while browsing for chip inlay? Lemme know. Thx.

[JCG2]

Wow, thank you so very much. So informative and helpful. Love your collection.

[Bmpdvm]

Wow, @saef …what a collection and thanks so much for information. In my early days of collecting I thought chip inlay jewelry was basically crap (I was quite opinionated). But some time go I looked carefully at some gorgeous pieces by the Singer family and others and was impressed by the quality of the silver work and Inlay. I had several in my collection, but when I began selling, I sold them.

Today my husband and I went to an antique and collectibles show. I ended up talking with a gentleman who was selling lot of silver jewelry at silver weight prices. I looked at this inlay cuff and another Zuni cuff and ended up buying them to “Save them”. The only hallmark is “N- “. I’m unable to find this hallmark as I’m pretty sure it isn’t Gene Natan. I’d appreciate any thoughts about this cuff and the poss maker

[Steve]

5th edition has this

and in 2011 a brother to your cuff was also searching for the same info

https://925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=24189

https://www.icollector.com/Navajo-Turquoise-Coral-Inlay-Silver-Watch-Band_i13407202

https://forum.turquoisepeople.com/t/help-with-two-hallmarks-one-n-or-z-and-bear-track/2315/2?u=steve

[Ziacat]

There is a Nellie Bain listed in Hougart’s with a hallmark N (but no line listed after the initial; the book has no photo of the hallmark). When I googled her, I found several chip inlay pieces accredited to her. Maybe your hallmark is for Stanley Curley, but it doesn’t really look quite like that either. He appears to have a very clear crescent before the N, although I know Jason has often said that hallmarks can change over time.

[Bmpdvm]

Thanks @Steve and @Ziacat . It certainly could be either! I did see Nelly Bain @Ziacat , but unfortunately I didn’t look at what she produced. And your thoughts about hallmarks changing over time is certainly true.
I find the numbers of artists known to produce chip inlay interesting. I would have never thought Fred Thompson or Al Joe produced chip inlay…live and learn!

[chicfarmer]

I won’t believe Fred Thompson for chip inlay without seeing one myself and/or seeing a trustable provenance.

[Bmpdvm]

Agreed! He was the name in the posted group that made me stop and think…no way!