Diné (Navajo) Traditional Turquoise & Silver Bracelet [SOLD]

Looking at this lovely bracelet is like looking at a part of Navajo history. This piece was most likely made for Navajo use, not to sell to tourists. From early on, Navajos used their jewelry as a way of saving their wealth. Instead of putting money in the bank, they would purchase or make beautiful pieces of jewelry, and if times got tough, would pawn these pieces for trade or cash. When times got better, they would get the pieces out of pawn. Many Navajo used the trading post pawn system as a safe deposit vault for jewelry and other valuable items to insure they were safe from burglary.

Early photos taken by Laura Gilpin of Navajo women show them wearing bracelets similar in style to this one. Even today, if you visit a Navajo event, like the Shiprock Fair, you will see Navajo women displaying their wealth in jewelry. This bracelet is a masterpiece of workmanship and beauty. Balanced circles of smaller stones surround the large center stone and a similar layout surrounds the half-moon stones on the sides.  Each individual stone is placed in a delicate bezel. The effect is one of traditional Navajo balance and beauty.  The bracelet predates the 1950s.

Condition: original condition with evidence of wear

Provenance: from a gentleman from Missouri who had purchased it from Arrowsmiths of Santa Fe over 30 years ago. 

Recommended Reading:  North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment by Lois Sherr Dubin