Sterling Silver and Turquoise Sand Cast Letter Opener [SOLD]

The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, also known as the Santa Fe Railroad, arrived in New Mexico in 1880.  Shortly after, the Fred Harvey Company set up hotels at various locations along the route and promoted the American Southwest as an exotic destination. The company sold handcrafted souvenirs made by the local Native American people. Textiles, pottery, baskets and silverwork were sold in gift shops in the hotels and restaurants.  This enterprise provided new opportunities for the indigenous people to make a living. 

Navajo silversmiths crafted jewelry and other silver objects to appeal to the tastes of the traveling adventurer. A popular non-jewelry item was the letter opener.

There are various methods of producing silver objects. One method is sand casting. A mold was made out of a special type of sand and molten silver was then poured into the mold. After the silver cooled the piece was taken out and polished and finish-touches, such as the addition of stones and stamp work, were added.

A bright blue turquoise stone was added to this sandcast thunderbird letter opener. Stamp work was used to create eyes and feathers for the thunderbird. It is an excellent example of a Fred Harvey souvenir bought to bring back memories of an exotic Southwest adventure.

Condition: very good condition

Recommended Reading:  Inventing the Southwest: The Fred Harvey Company and Native American Art by Kathleen L. Howard, Heard Museum Staff, Diana F. Pardue

Provenance: from a gentleman in Colorado