Jewelry, Traditional
Jacob Poleviyouma, is featured in Theta Bassman’s book, "The Beauty of Hopi Jewelry". This beautiful Sunface design, measures 3-3/4 inches in diameter, and was created in 1980 and purchased in Gallup, New Mexico, that year. The tips are handmade with matching Sunface overlay drops on the bottom. The artist died in 1982. The Sunface Kachina is the leader of ceremonies and considered to be essential for life.
Hopi Silversmith, Lawrence Saufkie, has been a silversmith from over 60 years. His father, Paul Saufkie, along with Fred Kaboutie, were the people responsible for developing the Hopi overlay style of jewelry in the 1930’s. Lawerence is credited for pushing to the art form it is known as Hopi overlay, today. Saufkie will be honored at the Santa Fe Indian Market this summer with a lifetime achievement award. The two bolos represent a Hopi Katsina face with multiple overlays of silver. The smaller piece was purchased that same year in Estes Park, Colorado. It measures 2 -1/8 inches wide x 2 inches, again with beautiful handmade silver tips. Because of his health, Saufkie now produces very little jewelry. The technique of Hopi overlay is that the designs are cut by hand (usually with one continuous cut) and soldered to the silver sheet below... which is incised with beautiful patterns of its own. Lawrence Saufkie jewelry is infinitely more then the sum of its parts.
Hopi Silversmith, Lawrence Saufkie, has been a silversmith from over 60 years. His father, Paul Saufkie, along with Fred Kaboutie, were the people responsible for developing the Hopi overlay style of jewelry in the 1930’s. Saufkie will be honored at the Santa Fe Indian Market this summer with a lifetime achievement award. The bolo represent a Hopi Katsina face with multiple overlays of silver.This larger piece, which is 4-1/4 inches wide by 3-1/2 inches tall, with hand-made sliver tips, was purchased in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 1985. Because of his health, Saufkie now produces very little jewelry. Overlay jewelry is made by applying silver layers, one over another, to create detailed scenes, masks, or patterns. Hopi overlay takes the process further by delicately incising the lower layer of metal to enhance the design. Prior to the overlay technique (1940's), Hopi jewelry was very much like the jewelry of other Southwestern Indian people of that time. Paul Saufkie was recently recognized by the American Museum of Natural History in NYC for his contribution to this art form.
Double Squash Blossom Necklace-Artist is unknown. Unusual in the fact that there are two blossoms on the same bar, across from one another. Sterling silver, Navajo made and newer.
Jeanette Dale creates works of art with silver and turquoise. She uses the finest stones and heavy gauge sterling silver. Three large nuggets of Morenci turquoise are set in stamped and braided sterling. This bracelet is a 7 1/2 inches around and has a 1 1/2 opening.
Hand stamped, hand polished sterling silver and a bezel set turquoise cabochon. This bracelet is 1/2 inch wide at the center and 6 and 3/4 inches around.
Daniel Benally creates old style Navajo jewelry with hand crafted techniques. Stamping, embossing, bezel set turquoise, oxidization on sterling silver. This buckle fits a 1 3/4 inch wide belt.
Pictured is a turquoise cluster cuff that has 3 floral designs, with 7 turquoise cabochons making up each flower. The Robin's egg blue of the cabochons is perfectly delightful. This bracelet measures 7 inches with an opening of 1 1/8 inches. The width is 1 1/2 inch at the center.
Traditional sterling silver Squash Blossom necklace. The beads are hand made and hand polished to a fine satin finish. The Naja feature three nuggets of turquoise. This necklace is a Navajo beauty.
Steve Arviso is one of the talented Navajo jewelers who is making traditional style jewelry, that will be timeless. This bracelet has a central square cabochon of turquoise and is flanked by matching colored teardrop stones. Call about other sizes we may have,
