I’m busy tonight but coming up empty-handed. Here is an old watch cuff - very large. It is stamped with a PN on the inside. The cuff design is a phoenix - thunderbird - eagle (which is it?) in chip inlay using turquoise and a white/grey stone (no idea what this is). The beak is coral. At the left foot of the bird is a J, between the legs is a +, cross, or t, and outside the right foot is a B. Any idea what this means? Would greatly appreciate your thoughts.
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Normally I would have thought peyote bird, but that looks like an eagle to me. I like how the artist used the white stone where an eagle would be white, on the head and on the underside. He’s also got feathers at back of his head and an orange/yellow beak. Cool piece.
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not peyote bird…that’s always vertical.
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That’s what I thought too. Besides it looks like an eagle. What I find really interesting is that the underneath tail feathers of the eagle make the shape of a teepee. And you often see teepees on these type pieces.
I’m also thinking the cross marks are symbols, not an initial. I have a Tommy Singer cuff that has some little cross marks on it, although they’re not as big as yours, and I think they are just part of the design. The bigger cross on top on yours looks like it might actually be representing a cross. But I dunno.
I’m confused by the initials. I’m assuming the hallmark is on the under side of the piece, so maybe the other initials were for something else? Anyway, I didn’t have any luck with either set of initials.
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It would be symbols for the Native American Church.
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Thanks, I couldn’t think of the exact name. So what do you think the initials are for on the topside of the cuff, Jason?
No, I think the artist made the bracelet for someone with the initials JB. A commissioned piece or possibly a friend. I did come across an artist by the name Peter Nelson who does silver overlay work, but on Garland’s it notes that he learned in Holbrook. That is Tommy Singer country and this bracelet looks to have the correct age for someone who maybe worked in his shop.
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Thank you guys for the help. I felt this was an eagle also - due to the feathers at the back of the head. And the crosses seemed to imply a religious connection.
Jason you mentioned “the correct age” of the piece. Can you be more specific as to age?
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That the style was really popular in the 1980s and 70s, lots of silversmiths making chip inlay. This piece looks to be from this era and is different from what he is doing now, meaning if it is him, and he learned in Holbrook that it makes sense to me.
thanks Jason. Wonder if he is still around and available to reach. Might make for an interesting story. I have often talked to the silversmiths themselves for clarification. Some said “yep” that’s my piece - others said “nope” never done anything like that.