I ran across this one last night. Very interesting!
3 Likes
It definitley is, Zia! Some beautiful overlay work, and that stone is something else!! Thanks for sharing! 
1 Like
Love the hands in spiny oyster. And the creativity and daring in conceiving and creating this in 1925 is just mind blowing!
1 Like
I agree, Mike. It certainly was (and still is, I believe) highly unique.
As an aside, it sold for $1,200 in 1975, equivalent to $7170.22 today. Here is the catalogue photo. The tooled leather is interesting, as well.
4 Likes
Really dig the rain cloud patterns in the stampwork too. Just super cool all whe way around!
3 Likes
Late in commenting, but damn that is a thing of beauty.
It really has a power to it.
Great acquisition @Ravenscry !!!
Great taste as always!
1 Like
Thank you, August, for your kind words and enthusiasm. That’s the largest of my ketohs and I, too, feel it carries a unique presence. 
I have only ever owned this one and I would love some feedback. All opinions welcome.
It was sold to me ( from a very reputable dealer ) as being made by the Hopi artist “ Glen Lucas “ who died in 1985, but was apparently a teacher at Hopi Crafts and highly respected.
I Once I removed it from the leather cuff and it indeed was hallmarked in a nearly identical way to his published hallmarks.
It’s not that I doubt any of this- it’s just that from what I have seen Mr. Luca’s work seems to be - shall I say more simple.
Thoughts?
5 Likes
What a beautiful ketoh, @August!
I have a few. 
Do you happen to remember if your ketoh had the Hopi Craft mark, along with Glenn’s hallmark? I’m just curious.
The saw work on the overlay and texturing on the underlayment are both exceptionally well done and incredibly tight. There appear to be a few almost undetectable differences in the mirror-images of the design, supporting the idea that it was crafted by hand, and by an absolute master silversmith. Glenn Lucas would certainly fit the bill. I would be curious as to the thoughts of @mmrogers concerning the craftsmanship.
This cuff of Mr. Lucas’ boasts similar workmanship, and, in my opinion, sweeping curves and radii not unlike your ketoh.
5 Likes
I would characterize the work in the Ketoh as anything but simple, and completely agree with @Ravenscry with regard to the design, and technical execution which is outstanding in every respect.The background stamping in the recessed areas alone took hours upon hours of precise painstaking work. This process employs a single straight line background stamp meticulously applied one line at a time and arranged in neat rows stacked one over the other for this effect. The entire pattern built one single tiny line, one hammer strike at a time, perfectly placed by an expert hand. The work is simply amazing!
7 Likes
I think what they were trying to say was that they felt like other work by Glen Lucas was more simple than the work done in the ketoh. However, I looked up some of his work, and I am not sure why it seems “more simple.” The cuff Aaron posted is a perfect example; I love it. I don’t think a design has to be elaborate to be excellent.
4 Likes
6 Likes
I would never attempt to speak for someone else, but perhaps @August was implying was that his ketoh appears to contain a greater quantity of work than other, smaller works by Glenn Lucas, like the cuff I shared earlier and this one.
Not that either of these examples don’t contain large amounts of work, I’m strictly speaking to a visual interpretation.
The cuff that @Steve shared is certainly exceptional to this thought, as it presents with a great amount of work in a small area. I agree with @Ziacat, that complexity isn’t synonymous with beauty; but I also feel that, after admiring this range of technical prowess, it speaks to Mr. Lucas’ abilities. He so tastefully performed his craft in both large and small envelopes: executing elegant, simple designs on smaller cuffs, while, at the same time, filling the entire canvas of a ketoh. Both of which are indicative of someone with great skill and a beautiful mind, in my opinion.
Much like our very own @mmrogers, with his finely executed, tasteful bangles and bracelets, to his eloquent interpretations of American Scroll, Relief, and I’m sure all other forms, of engraving.
3 Likes
Great thoughts and comments!
Thanks everyone for their opinions. If you asked me why I purchased the cuff it was 1) the extraordinary quality of the work- particularly that background - thanks @mmrogers- 2) the fine patina and “ righteousness “ of the entire piece 3) it’s scale 4) the lovely balanced and bi-lateral symmetry of the design.
I suppose I was “ concerned “ it might not actually be Mr. Lucas’s work due to its technical and artistic complexity. ( an embarrassment of riches! ) The few pieces I had seen of his work - thanks @StevesTrail - seemed to be less exuberant. But it’s great to see the scope of his ability, and makes me understand why he was a teacher and is so highly respected.
I actually am drawn towards simplicity of design and love when an artist can create beauty or artistic excellence while being reductive. I suppose that why I always was drawn to Eastern Woodlands animal effigies and their ability to convey the spirit of an animal so simply and clearly. I diverged…..
The only hallmark are his initials.
Would anyone care to weigh in on the stone?
And one other question; is there a typical or common way a ketoh was laced-up? I can’t for the life of me figure out how you would label this up with the hole configuration.
Thanks again for everyone’s time and expertise.
3 Likes
Wrong attribution. Should go to @Steve .
1 Like
Thanks for the correct attribution and direction @StevesTrail
Thanks @Steve for your input.
1 Like
When you have a moment, could you share a photo of the “closure”? One that would show both ends of the wrist leather?
On the few that I have, the thong is looped through two holes in one side, and it simply pass through holes in the opposing side. When I wear mine, I just loosely knot the leather, like below.
1 Like
Thanks @Ravenscry , I love your impressive drawing ( auto cad ? ). Makes it very easy for me to understand .
Here are the photos of the leather cuff , both ends . expect the sets of holes allow for adjusting and tightening/loosening.
It also seems to me that the cuff may have had a several phases of embellishment - as there are additional “ holes” for adornment ? The leather is beautiful, old and with great patina and seems to me alot older than the silver-work.
Finally, I include a top down photo showing the curvature of the silver plate - a small feature, but one I love.
Thanks again everyone!!!
August
CUFF END “ B” WITH LACE
CUFF END “ A “ WITH LACE
CUFF END “ B “ WITHOUT LACE
SHOWING THE CURVATURE OF THE SILVER PLATE
4 Likes
Oops…please disregard the labels on that first photo- should read CUFF END “ A “ WITH LACE.
1 Like
Thank you for these extra photos, @August.
I feel there are a few possibilities that could be considered. As I’m sure you’re aware, many times, on early ketohs, the leather was salvaged from other wares: saddlebags, rifle scabbards, saddles, etc., and this is evidenced by tooling still visible when the shape of the leather was finished. Similar to this.
The other holes could have been punched for adjustment, catering different wrist sizes, or they could also be remnants of the ketoh being embellished with silver buttons, coins with a soldered loop on the reverse, or brass buttons; although, generally, this is executed close to the main silver body of the ketoh, and many times, they run the length of the leather. Similar to these.
Now that, by no means, is set in stone, it’s just what I have personally seen numerous times. There are bound to be examples that defy this suggestion, but it’s just a thought.
3 Likes