Navajo Sterling Silver and Turquoise Choker Style Necklace by Fred Thompson [SOLD]

This Navajo silver and turquoise necklace by Diné Silversmith Fred Thompson was cleverly formed with silver sections cut with diagonal edges so they fit together when worn.  Each of the silver pieces was also formed in a curve. On five of the silver sections, the artist placed beautiful dark blue turquoise gemstones, each with exquisite matrix. Each turquoise gemstone is oval and domed and secured with a silver bezel.  The turquoise cabs are beautiful blue sections floating on a black background matrix similar to Lander Blue turquoise, however, I do not know the mine from which they came. These are magnificent turquoise gemstones mounted on exquisite silverwork by a master artist.  

Fred Thompson (1922-2002) was an accomplished Diné silversmith who started his career at age 15 working for Turpen Trading Post in Gallup, New Mexico. (Schaaf 2003:306).   He was still working for Turpen in the 1950s. (Messier 2014:116).  His hallmark was a tilde, sometimes a TT over a tilde, acknowledging his association with Tobe Turpen. (Hougart 2011:339)

He apparently was loyal to Turpen and never sold to other dealers.  He had a brief break in his career when he served in World War II. After returning, he continued silversmithing into the 1990s.

Condition: this Navajo Sterling Silver and Turquoise Choker Style Necklace by Fred Thompson is in very good condition

Provenance: from a client in Colorado

References: 

- Messier & Messier. Reassessing Hallmarks of Native Southwest Jewelry

- Schaaf, Gregory. American Indian Jewelry I: 1,200 Artist Biographies

- Hougart, Bille. THE LITTLE BOOK OF MARKS ON SOUTHWESTERN SILVER Silversmiths, Designers, Guilds and Traders

Relative Links: Navajo Nation, Southwest Indian Jewelry, Fred Thompson