Diné (Navajo) Silver Pictorial Pin [SOLD]

When tourists traveled to the Southwest on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (AT&SF) trains, starting as early as 1880, they were doing so because they had been told wonderful stories about the Native tribes, particularly in New Mexico and Arizona.  Excited to be in the Southwest, they wanted to take something back home as a reminder.  Some took Navajo textiles, some took Pueblo pottery, and some took Native jewelry.  The latter was the easiest to transport and was a favorite.  The Fred Harvey Company realized the importance of souvenirs for the travelers and set up gift shops in their hotels that were major stops for the AT&SF trains.

Items of jewelry that featured Native-related items of design were particularly desirable.  Pins such as this one with an eagle and arrows evoked “Indian” to the tourists and that was exactly what they wanted.  Fred Harvey was responsible for the distribution of many Southwest souvenirs to tourists and certainly must be credited with helping to maintain a steady market for the local artists.

This silver pin is comprised of a base that is a flat bar split into four narrow strips, over which are attached cutouts of a pair of facing arrows that point to a cutout of a bird. The entire pin, base and cutouts, are heavily stamped with traditional designs.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman in Georgia