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Kewa, Acoma, Cherokee, Haida, Yaqui, Comanche, Taos, and other Native American/Southwestern jewelry
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6.1" Southwestern sterling silver turquoise cluster cuff bracelet
6.1" Southwestern sterling silver turquoise cluster cuff bracelet. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver with no detectable markings. Weight and measurements in pictures. Some expected wear, no cracks or breaks. Circa last quarter of the 20th century.
$595.00
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6.25" Carolyn Pollack sterling silver multi-stone southwestern cuff bracelet
6.25" Carolyn Pollack sterling silver multi-stone southwestern cuff bracelet. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver with the markings shown. Weight and measurements in pictures. Some expected wear, no cracks or breaks. Really appears unworn.
$250.00
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6.7" AA Southwestern sterling silver multi-stone/shell inlay cuff bracelet
6.7" AA Southwestern sterling silver multi-stone/shell inlay cuff bracelet. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver with the markings shown. Weight and measurements in pictures. Some expected wear, no cracks or breaks. Very sturdy. Circa 1990‘s, unknown, unresearched maker.
$225.00
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6.75" DT Southwestern sterling silver multi-stone inlay link bracelet
6.75" DT Southwestern sterling silver multi-stone inlay link bracelet. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver. Unresearched, marked as shown, no damage. Circa last quarter of the 20th century.
$225.00
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Large Vintage Puebloan sterling silver wire bolo tie with turquoise cabochon
Large Vintage Puebloan sterling silver wire bolo tie with turquoise cabochon. Solid sterling silver slide and tips (tested). Weight and measurements in pictures. Great bolo with no issues. 39" long. No detectable markings.
$325.00
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Vidal Aragon Santo Domingo Sterling silver bolo tie with high grade turquoise
Vidal Aragon Santo Domingo Sterling silver bolo tie with high grade turquoise. Solid sterling silver (tested). Weight and measurements in pictures. 40" long, Stone secure in bezel with tight fracture about 1/3 from the top going across.
$495.00
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7 Strand Vintage Santo Domingo red coral necklace w/sterling silver beads
7 Strand Vintage Santo Domingo red coral necklace w/sterling silver beads. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver beads, Natural red coral. Nice old necklace from the mid 20th century. 18" ong with no apparent damage. I realize this pictures are bad, but the necklace is great.
$1,495.00
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Strange Southwestern Mixed Media Sculpture Ceramic
Strange Native American Mixed Media Sculpture. Great piece from the last quarter of the 20th century. From a 5 million dollar estate where everything was expensive but I don‘t have much time to spend on this, it‘s signed on the base and really cool. 13.75" tall, no issues. The mask is porcelain, really I don‘t know that it‘s native American. I just know that it‘s art from a home where all the art I was able to identify cost well over 1k on average when purchased. gara
$275.00
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6.25" Andy Lee Kirk Isleta pueblo Sterling silver turquoise inlaid cuff bracelet
6.25" Andy Lee Kirk Isleta pueblo Sterling silver turquoise inlaid cuff bracelet. Solid sterling silver, circa last quarter of the 20th century. This artist did very little work in silver as his work was so desirable/expensive. I believe he is one of the few 20th century Native American artists to have done more work in gold than in silver. Even in the 70‘s he was working in gold, but most of the silver jewelry he made was in the 70‘s. So while this may not be more valuable than a similar gold bracelet, it is rarer. Weight and measurements in pics, all solid sterling. NO issues. Andy Lee Kirk was a Master contemporary Native American artist of Isleta and Navajo heritage, who died tragically at the height of his career at the age of 54. He created beautiful gold and silver jewelry using the finest materials from 1970 to 2001. Born in 1947, he originally earned a degree in biology continuing on to work for the Fish and Wildlife and Forest Services. Andy had learned the basics of jewelry making at the University of New Mexico and with the urging of Navajo artist, Gibson Nez, he made the decision to become a full time jeweler. Andy Lee Kirk was a consummate artist with many fine skills. He did lapidary work, rolling his own beads, and had mastered many types of precious metalwork including lost wax and sand cast techniques, stamping, engraving, overlay and fabrication. His artistic innovation reached further than aesthetic beauty alone. His designs were brilliant a perfect balance between clean modern lines, meaningful symbolism, and bright southwestern colors such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, and red coral. He was the IACA Artist of the Year in 1996 and earned many other prestigious awards and accolades including First Place and Best of Division at Santa Fe Indian Market and Best of Category at the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup, NM.
$1,650.00
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6.5" 1950's Frank Patania Sr Modernist sterling silver turquoise cuff bracelet
6.5" Frank Patania Sr Modernist sterling silver turquoise cuff bracelet. Solid sterling silver, mid 20th century made by Frank Patania Sr in his Thunderbird Studio, c1950‘s. Weight and measurements in pics, all solid sterling. NO issues. Frank Patania, Sr. (1899-1964), a silversmith of international renown, established the iconic Thunderbird Studio in Santa Fe. His exceptional work remains highly coveted by collectors with a deep appreciation for Southwestern artistry. Beyond his own creations, Patania played a pivotal role in elevating the craft of Native American silversmiths, generously sharing his expertise in gemstone setting and other intricate techniques. He fostered the talents of Pueblo artisans like Julian Lovato of Santo Domingo and Louis Lamay of Hopi, serving as both mentor and employer. Though born in Sicily, Patania‘s profound influence on the Santa Fe art scene took root in the 1950s, leaving an indelible mark on the region‘s artistic heritage.
$3,850.00
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1970's Carved Bone/Shell Northwest coast Native American silver fetish necklace
1970‘s Carved Bone/Shell Northwest coast Native American silver fetish necklace. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver, fittings. No damage or issues. All hand carved, Native American made. 18" necklace, other measurements in pictures.
$225.00
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6.6" c1950's Large Bell Trading Post copper repousse Southwestern cuff bracelet
6.6" c1950‘s Large Bell Trading Post copper repousse Southwestern cuff bracelet. Weight and measurements in pictures, marked as shown. Mid 20th century with appropriate wear. The system of trading posts in the arid southwest had an enormous impact on how the area was shaped, both economically and in the minds and imaginations of travelers to the area. One such post was established by Jack Michelson and his wife, Mildred, in 1932 in the growing city of Albuquerque. Mildreds maiden name was Bell, so the Michelsons chose the name Bell Trading Post for their business. The post was located along the new highway known as Route 66. Michelson hoped this spot would be a boon in establishing his business as a place where tourists could find locally made Native American jewelry. The beginning years were a struggle but the location did help the trading post hold on, particularly when Roosevelts New Deal created the CCC and truckers were hitting the roads to transport goods. Bell Trading Post was in the right location to sell them souvenirs for their family back home. Jobs were hard to come by then and many Native artisans were willing to make Jack Michelsons jewelry. But money was scarce as well so the Michelsons looked to earlier entrepreneurs like Fred Harvey for how to make their new business a success. They installed their own machines for making the jewelry and used copper and nickel more than silver and gold to create their pieces. In the initial years, the post marked its jewelry with the image of a bell. Over the years there would be other trademarks they used, such as an arrow with a bell sign hanging from it. Most of these trademarks included a bell in some part of the design. Due to the fact that he had little competition, Jack Michelson decided against paying the cost to file these initial trademarks used during the 1930s. The years during WWII saw the business boom. The southwest was designated as a military training area and there were many soldiers far from home looking for gifts to send back to their families. Bell Trading Post expanded its business and began to sell their products wholesale to other tourist shops. With the death of Jack in 1957, the business of Bell Trading Post passed to his children, Jack, Douglas and Jacquelyn. The change ushered in a new era for the company. The siblings opted to file their first trademark, and to expand their product line. In 1969, they formed Sunbell, a corporation which oversaw their new product lines such as Oglala Lakota moccasins and copperware as well as their jewelry. Sunbell remained in business until the late 1980s.
$195.00
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1970's Eustace Cochiti Pueblo Sterling silver carved turquoise coral pendant/pin
1970‘s Eustace Cochiti Pueblo Sterling silver carved turquoise coral pendant/pin. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver, nice large piece with weight and measurements in pictures. Larger turquoise with old fracture. All stones secure in bezels.
$275.00
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6.8" Alfred Seaweed Kwagiulth Northwest coast sterling silver cuff bracelet
Alfred Seaweed Kwagiulth Northwest coast sterling silver hand carved cuff bracelet. Solid sterling silver, signed as shown with no issues very clean pre-owned condition. Weight and measurements in pictures. It would be a struggle to find a better example of this artists work. Alfred Seaweed was born May 22, 1949 in Alert Bay, a small fishing village off the northeastern coast of Vancouver Island. This area is representative of the Kwagiulth Nation, a tribe that inhabits mainly the southern region of the province. Alfred takes the Sisiutl (double headed sea serpent), from his mother, and the eagle, from his father, as his family crests. Alfred is a descent from a large family of carvers, so it was only natural that he began carving. In 1978 Alfred apprenticed under Lloyd Wadhams, a prominent Kwagiulth artist also from Alert Bay, who is now deceased. Lloyd taught Alfred the art of jewellery carving, using silver and gold as his mediums. Alfreds style is traditionally Kwagiulth depicting motifs that are common to the Kwagiulth mythology. Alfred is a well-respected artist in the native community as he avidly preserves the carving traditions of his ancestors for future generations.
$850.00
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6.6" 40's-50's Fred Harvey style Indian Chief sterling turquoise cuff bracelet
6.6" 40‘s-50‘s Fred Harvey style Indian Chief sterling turquoise cuff bracelet. Solid sterling silver, unmarked bracelet from the mid 20th century, vintage item with some expected wear. Old fracture on the side of the stone, secure in bezel.
$275.00
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20" Southwestern style sterling silver mounted coral 3 strand necklace
20" Southwestern style sterling silver mounted coral 3 strand necklace. The beads and hardware are solid sterling silver, marked 925 on one of the tubes with no other markings. This coral is really dark red, possibly glass or dyed, untested due to time limitations. Weight and measurements in pictures. I thought I found one of the coral pieces with damage but could not find it again, overall good condition.
$125.00
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10 strand Southwestern sterling liquid silver turquoise tube beads necklace
10 strand Southwestern sterling liquid silver turquoise tube beads necklace. Marked sterling on each top cone, all the metal on this is solid sterling silver. Unsure of maker, 16" long.
$95.00
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2 strand Southwestern sterling liquid silver turquoise nugget beads necklace
2 strand Southwestern sterling liquid silver turquoise nugget beads necklace. Marked 925 on each top cone, all the metal on this is solid sterling silver. Unsure of maker. 22" long.
$125.00
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7.25" Southwestern modernist sterling silver cuff bracelet signed
7.25" Southwestern modernist sterling silver cuff bracelet signed. Illegibly signed with no issues. Weight and measurements in pictures.
$110.00
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sz9.75-adjustable KD Southwestern sterling silver high grade variscite ring
sz9.75-adjustable KD Southwestern sterling silver high grade variscite ring. Weight and measurements in pictures. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver, marked as shown, unresearched due to time limitations. High quality, modern.
$175.00
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c1960 Southwestern sterling silver, diamond, and cz bolo tie
c1960 Southwestern sterling silver, diamond, and cz bolo tie. Solid sterling bolo slide and tips, no issues. Weight and measurements in pictures. 44" long. 5 small natural diamonds, tested with larger CZ.
$295.00
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GG Southwestern Artisan sterling silver carved earrings
GG Southwestern Artisan sterling silver carved earrings. Illegibly signed, looks like GG. Weight and measurements in pics, all solid sterling. NO issues. Very high quality pieces from an extremely high quality collection put together in the 90‘s. I didn‘t have time to try to idenify much of it as there just is no time, but the pieces I did recognize were all from very high end mostly Santa Fe, New Mexico artists. It was all collected on trips to Santa Fe in the 90‘s. anderas anderas
$145.00
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6.75" Vintage Native American Braided Silver turquoise row cuff bracelet
40‘s-50‘s Vintage Native American Braided Silver and turquoise bracelet. Unusually well made bracelet with attractive stones, fits up to a 6.75" wrist, 5.75" plus 1" gap. No markings other than scratched traders code inside. 42.4 grams. All precious metals are tested and guaranteed,
$750.00
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sz7 14k gold southwestern ring with high grade spiderweb turquoise
sz7 14k gold southwestern ring with high grade spiderweb turquoise. Weight and measurements in pictures. Unmarked as shown, tested and guaranteed solid 14k gold with 14k scratched on the back.
$995.00
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6.1" Vintage Native American sterling silver cuff bracelet w/overlay design
6.1" Vintage Native American sterling silver cuff bracelet w/overlay design. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver. Hallmarked as shown, unattributed, unresearched. Navajo or Hopi.
$175.00
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6" Vintage Native American sterling silver hand stamped turquoise cuff bracelet
5.9" Vintage Native American sterling silver hand stamped turquoise cuff bracelet. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver. Very good condition with no damage or excessive wear. No apparent artist hallmarks, nice bracelet from the mid 20th century. Just under 6" with gap. Interesting stampings, seems Puebloan.
$235.00
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6 Vintage Southwestern sterling silver button cover set End of the Trail Cow
6 Vintage Southwestern sterling silver button cover set End of the Trail Cow skull. One cow skull and 5 End of the Trail as shown.. Weight and measurements in the pictures. Solid sterling silver fronts with base metal backs as always with these. All functional with no issues.
$110.00
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7.25" Rey M Southwestern Sterling silver Cobblestone turquoise cuff bracelet
7.25" Rey M Southwestern Sterling silver Cobblestone turquoise cuff bracelet. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver. Minor wear to one side close to gap, no significant issues. Illegible signature that is possibly a hallmark Rey M.
$750.00
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Vintage Southwestern sterling silver button cover set
Vintage Southwestern sterling silver button cover set. Weight and measurements in the pictures. Solid sterling silver fronts with base metal backs as always with these. All functional with no issues.
$110.00
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6.1" Southwestern sterling silver fancy cuff bracelet with nice turquoise
6.1" Southwestern sterling silver fancy cuff bracelet with nice turquoise. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver. No damage, marked as shown. Fairly modern. Unsure of artist, didn‘t try to find out due to time limitations.
$225.00
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sz7 Zuni or Puebloan Vintage sterling silver high grade carved turquoise ring
sz7 Zuni or Puebloan Vintage sterling silver high grade carved turquoise ring with coral. Weight and measurements in pictures. Unmarked as shown, tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver. No issues.
$245.00
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Vintage Carol Felley Southwestern Sterling silver Storyteller necklace
Vintage Carol Felley Southwestern Sterling silver Storyteller necklace. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver. Weight and measurements in pictures. No issues. 20" long.
$345.00
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sz8.5 Hopi 14k gold high grade turquoise ring Native American
sz8.5 Hopi 14k gold high grade turquoise ring Native American. Weight and measurements in pictures. No damage or detectable wear. Very high quality work, I could not figure out the hallmark, but believe it‘s Hopi made.
$1,250.00
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sz7.5 40's-50's Southwestern sterling silver high grade webbed turquoise ring
sz7.5 40‘s-50‘s Southwestern sterling silver high grade webbed turquoise ring. Weight and measurements in pictures. Very nice ring from the mid 20th century.
$165.00
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sz10 70's-80's Mexican sterling silver turquoise and coral southwestern ring
sz10 70‘s-80‘s Mexican sterling silver turquoise and coral southwestern ring. Weight and measurements in pictures. No issues, marked as shown. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver.
$65.00
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Large Ellen ? Southwestern sterling silver bolo tie
Large Ellen ? Southwestern sterling silver bolo tie. Solid sterling silver slide and tips. Weight and measurements in pics. 38" long. Expected wear with no apparent damage. Weight shown is just the entire bolo, if there is a tray pictured it will be tared out of course. Nice bolo from the last quarter of the 20th century. Illegible to me last name of artist.
$195.00
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Large 1970's BJS Sterling silver and jasper southwestern bolo tie
Large 1970‘s BJS Sterling silver and jasper southwestern bolo tie. Solid sterling silver slide and tips. Weight and measurements in pics. 39" long. Expected wear with no apparent damage. Weight shown is just the entire bolo, if there is a tray pictured it will be tared out of course.
$165.00
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7.12" c1950 Native American sterling silver and turquoise cast cuff bracelet
7.12" c1950 Native American sterling silver and turquoise cast cuff bracelet Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver with no hallmarks, circa mid 20th century.
$425.00
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Federico Jimenez heavily stamped sterling silver turquoise eyes butterfly pin
Federico Jimenez heavily stamped sterling silver turquoise eyes butterfly. Great looking and substantial pin with no issues. Weight and measurements in pictures.
$335.00
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6.65" c1950 Maisels Sterling silver and turquoise southwestern cuff bracelet
6.65" c1950 Maisels Sterling silver and turquoise southwestern cuff bracelet. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver with no issues. Marked sterling in several places, one with Maisels mark.
$325.00
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7.25" Cippy Crazy Horse Cochiti Heavy sterling silver stamped cuff bracelet
7.25" Cippy Crazy Horse Cochiti Heavy sterling silver stamped cuff bracelet. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver with no issues. Cippy Crazy Horse Born Cipriano Quintana to renowned jewelers Terecita and Joe H. Quintana, Cippy CrazyHorse has carried on the classic traditional Pueblo design his parents started. To these classic designs, CrazyHorse brings his personal style. The bold, deep stamp and chisel designs on thick gauge silver are his trademark. Much of the thick gauge silver comes from melting scrap silver into ingots a process the “old timers incorporated. CrazyHorse says of his work, “There are traditional classic styles in silver jewelry, the Navajo and the Pueblo , and I do the latter; from cuff bracelets to concho belts, ranger set buckles and bead necklaces. Following high school, CrazyHorse attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales for two and a half years and then served in the US Navy until 1972. Upon returning home to Cochiti, CrazyHorse worked as an electricians assistant on the construction of Cochiti Dam, but an injury in 1974 curtailed that line of work. According to CrazyHorse, the injury “forced his hand at silversmithing. He started with the smaller tasks of making silver chains and gradually taught himself the old style of silversmithing. With much support and encouragement from his father and his wife, Susan, his silversmithing began earnestly. CrazyHorse has received much recognition for his work, having garnered his share of ribbons at the Southwestern Association of Indian Arts Indian Market in Santa Fe over the course of the past 35 years. He is considered a “Master Silversmith and his work is numerous collections and books on Native American jewelry. In the August, 2008 issue of The Santa Fean, Cippy was featured as one of “Seven Standouts of Indian Market. He has been featured in many other newspaper and magazine articles over the years, and in several museum and private exhibitions throughout the country. His work is highly sought after in Japan , where his classic designs are admired as well as his dedication to a traditional lifestyle at Cochiti Pueblo. Cippy and his work are featured in the “Artists Handmade section of the April 2011 issue of the Japanese (American Western Culture) magazine, “Free and Easy. Cippy has also been a Jewelry Judge at SWAIA Indian Market a number of times, where his unique sense of humor certainly enlivens the proceedings. In 1990, along with Yazzie Johnson, he curated the jewelry exhibit Steady Hands, White Metal at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe . CrazyHorse says of his work, “When I am making something, I hope I can inspire someone somewhere to admire the simplicity of the beauty in one of my pieces. I have won awards and ribbons, but when I see or hear the appreciation and happiness my work brings to those who have pieces, it makes me want to do more.
$1,100.00
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7.12" southwestern Sterling silver intarsia inlay Kokopelli cuff bracelet
7.12" southwestern Sterling silver intarsia inlay Kokopelli cuff bracelet. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver with no issues. Marked STERLING with no other markings, likely Native American made.
$495.00
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Vintage Native American sterling silver high grade turquoise dangly pendant/pin
Vintage Native American sterling silver high grade turquoise dangly pendant/pin. No damage, weight and measurements in pictures. Solid sterling silver circa third quarter of the 20th century, unmarked. This turquoise is incredible, photographer didn‘t present it well. I will try to get another shot.
$395.00
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Frank Patania Sr Southwestern Modernist Sterling silver/turquoise clip earrings
Frank Patania Sr Southwestern Modernist Sterling silver/turquoise clip earrings. Solid sterling silver with weight and measurements in pics. No issues. Strong springs on clips. Frank Patania, Sr. (1899-1964), a silversmith of international renown, established the iconic Thunderbird Studio in Santa Fe. His exceptional work remains highly coveted by collectors with a deep appreciation for Southwestern artistry. Beyond his own creations, Patania played a pivotal role in elevating the craft of Native American silversmiths, generously sharing his expertise in gemstone setting and other intricate techniques. He fostered the talents of Pueblo artisans like Julian Lovato of Santo Domingo and Louis Lamay of Hopi, serving as both mentor and employer. Though born in Sicily, Patania‘s profound influence on the Santa Fe art scene took root in the 1950s, leaving an indelible mark on the region‘s artistic heritage.
$545.00
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Vintage Native American sterling silver bolo tie with large turquoise stone
Vintage Native American sterling silver bolo tie with large turquoise stone. Solid sterling silver slide and tips. Weight and measurements in pics. 44" long. Expected wear with no apparent damage. Weight shown is just the entire bolo, if there is a tray pictured it will be tared out of course. There is an unidentified by me Horse picto-hallmark in two places. Nice Natural American turquoise that could be from a few different mines.
$285.00
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HEAVY southwestern sterling silver paw print belt buckle
HEAVY southwestern sterling silver paw print belt buckle. Fits up to a 1.75" belt. Solid sterling silver, B hallmark with no other markings. Weight and measurements in pictures. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver.
$575.00
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Vintage Native American sterling silver Reversible Kewa Inlay Turquoise pendant
Vintage Native American sterling silver Reversible Kewa Inlay Turquoise pendant. No damage, weight and measurements in pictures. Solid sterling silver circa third quarter of the 20th century, unmarked. Most likely Native American made.
$395.00
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c1960 c-31 Sterling silver and turquoise southwestern bolo tie
c1960 c-31 Sterling silver and turquoise southwestern bolo tie. Solid sterling silver slide and tips. Weight and measurements in pics. 38.5" long. Expected wear with no apparent damage. Weight shown is just the entire bolo, if there is a tray pictured it will be tared out of course.
$295.00
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Vintage southwestern Sterling silver agate belt buckle
Vintage southwestern Sterling silver agate belt buckle. Solid sterling silver with weight and other measurements in the pictures. There is what appears to me natural fissures in the stones, no loss.
$245.00
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6.6" c1960 Southwestern Modernist sterling silver coral cluster cuff bracelet
6.6" c1960 Southwestern Modernist sterling silver coral cluster cuff bracelet Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver with no issues. Minimal wear circa mid 20th century, unmarked.
$795.00
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6.5" c1930's Mohawk Trail Fred Harvey era sterling souvenir cuff bracelet
6.5" c1930‘s Mohawk Trail Fred Harvey era sterling souvenir cuff bracelet Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver with no issues. Minimal wear circa second quarter of 20th century, unmarked. Appears to be partially Hand stamped and partially machine made.
$275.00
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c1940 Santo Domingo Battery bird Necklace Tab Thunderbird
c1940 Santo Domingo Battery bird Necklace 22.5" long, no damage, weight and measurements in pictures. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Native American artists often used scrap materials including 78 rpm phonograph records, car battery casings (hard rubber), and red plastic dinnerware such as Dairy Queen spoons. This collectible, museum-quality tab necklace is a great example of Depression Era jewelry.
$695.00
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Vintage ZIJ Southwestern sterling turquoise row belt buckle
Vintage ZIJ Southwestern sterling turquoise row belt buckle. Solid sterling silver with weight and other measurements in the pictures. Fully functional vintage condition with minimal wear. Original 60‘s-70‘s price on back.
$245.00
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Vintage Southwestern Sterling silver Kingman Turquoise inlay belt buckle
Vintage Southwestern Sterling silver Kingman Turquoise inlay belt buckle. Solid sterling silver with weight and other measurements in the pictures. Unmarked, circa 1970‘s.
$425.00
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6.375" c1940's Fred Harvey Snakes and arrows sterling cuff bracelet w/turquoise
6.375" c1940‘s Fred Harvey Snakes and arrows sterling cuff bracelet w/turquoise Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver with no issues. Minimal wear.
$265.00
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6.7" c1950's Native American silver picture jasper turquoise cuff bracelet
c1950‘s Native American silver picture jasper turquoise cuff bracelet. Fits up to a 6.7" wrist, slightly adjustable. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver with no markings which is typical of Native American jewelry of this era (mid 20th century)
$295.00
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6.2" Freda Woodman Hansen BitNi dzeez baa Morenci turquoise cuff bracelet silver
6.2" Freda Woodman Hansen Bit Ni dzeez baa Morenci turquoise cuff bracelet silver., Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver with no issues. Signed Bit Ni dzeez baa which is her warrior name. Her father was Bahe Woodman who belonged to the Salt People Clan for Towering House People Clan.
$345.00
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c1950 picto mark Native American silver Horseshoe turquoise/coral bolo tie
c1950 picto mark Native American silver Horseshoe turquoise/coral bolo tie. Solid sterling silver slide and tips. Weight and measurements in pics. 40" long. Unidentified Picto-hallmark shown, illegible to me.
$495.00
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6.5" TJ Southwestern sterling silver link bracelet
6.5" TJ Southwestern sterling silver link bracelet. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver. No issues. anderas
$165.00
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1960's Vogt Sterling/10k hand engraved horse hair barrette
1960‘s Vogt Sterling/10k hand engraved horse hair barrette. Fully functional, appears unused. Solid 10k gold horse on solid sterling back. This has been put up for 60 years or so untouched, I left it in that condition but it will clean up nicely with ease. I could polish before shipping upon request. anderas
$225.00
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Vintage Southwestern sterling bull skull arrowhead earrings
Vintage Southwestern sterling bull skull arrowhead earrings. Vintage earrings with no issues. Weight and measurements in pics. Hallmarked as shown.
$165.00
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6.25" Vintage Silver and brass Native American cuff bracelet w/ Nice turquoise
6.25" Vintage Silver and brass Native American cuff bracelet w/ Nice turquoise. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver with brass bezel/ornament No issues.
$135.00
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6.375 southwestern sterling hammered edge stacker cuff bracelet
6 3/8" southwestern sterling hammered edge stacker cuff bracelet. Weight and measurements in pictures, solid sterling silver. No issues.
$75.00
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7" Vintage Northwest coast style Sterling silver cuff bracelet
7" Vintage Northwest coast style Sterling silver cuff bracelet. Weight and measurements in pictures, marked sterling. Nice older tourist bracelet, likely third quarter of the 20th century.
$225.00
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6.25" c1950's Haida silver hand carved cuff bracelet very detailed.
6.25" c1950‘s Haida silver hand carved cuff bracelet very detailed.. No issues, solid sterling, weight and measurements in pictures. Absolutely amazing bracelet to have no signature, but I think that‘s how it was back then. Circa mid 20th century. 5-2025rbag
$395.00
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6.25" Vintage Native American silver bulbous turquoise row cuff bracelet
6.25" Vintage Native American silver bulbous turquoise row cuff bracelet. No issues, solid sterling, weight and measurements in pictures. Apparently unmarked, circa third quarter of the 20th century.
$345.00
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6.625" Vintage southwestern sterling mountain range desert cuff bracelet
6 5/8" Vintage southwestern sterling mountain range desert cuff bracelet No issues, solid sterling, weight and measurements in pictures. Unmarked.
$145.00
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6.25" JT Southwestern sterling green turquoise modernist cuff bracelet
6.25" JT Southwestern sterling green turquoise modernist cuff bracelet. No issues, solid sterling, weight and measurements in pictures. Unsure of maker.
$185.00
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7" Crude Haida silver cuff bracelet xmas gift
7" Crude Haida silver cuff bracelet xmas gift. No issues. Weight and measurements in pictures. Great bracelet Solid sterling silver. Appears to have been given as an xmas gift. Possibly made by a kid, interesting piece of folk art.
$295.00
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Etsitty-Tsosie, Eskiesosie (Dine 1880-1937) Navajo Silver Squash Blossom Necklace
Etsitty-Tsosie, Eskiesosie (Dine, c.1880-1937) attrib. Silver Squash Blossom Necklace. One nearly identical sold as part of the C.G. Wallace Collection of American Indian Art . (1975: lot 215) Sotheby‘s Park Bernet. Then again Sep 18, 2020 at Cowan‘s for $8750 including BP. That one had the same identical stamps at the bottom of the discs. To me they were obviously both made by the same hand and it‘s very subjective which one is better. 21" long, other measurements in pictures. This is basically the same size/weight as the one previously sold. Etsitty Tsosie was active from 1910-1937 and passed away in 1937. Best known for his beautiful stamp work and repousse pieces. He worked for trader C.G. Wallace for a period of time and was commissioned to produce stamps. He and Hosteen Goodluck worked closely together creating many of the early concho belts and other detailed pieces of jewelry. Several of his pieces were featured in the C.G. Wallace collection. Mentioned in the John Adair 1944 book, Eskiesose (C.G. Wallace‘s questionable spelling) preferred to work without strangers watching him, as he insisted his silver would not melt correctly.
$6,750.00
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6.12" Vintage Pueblo silver twisted wire turquoise cuff bracelet
6 1/8" Vintage Pueblo silver twisted wire turquoise cuff bracelet. Solid sterling silver guaranteed, weight and measurement in pics. No damage. Unmarked, circa mid 20th century.
$245.00
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c1970's Southwestern sterling and lapis belt buckle
c1970‘s Southwestern sterling and lapis belt buckle. Solid sterling silver with weight and measurements in pictures. Marked sterling in center with some illegible initials.
$325.00
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7" Leo Coriz (1913-1997) Santo Domingo Pueblo tufa cast silver and turquoise cuff bracelet
7" Leo Coriz Santo Domingo Pueblo tufa cast silver and turquoise cuff bracelet. Solid sterling silver. Will fit up to a 7 wrist, gap size and other measurements in pictures. Nice, well made bracelet. Contemporary bracelet, hardly worn. Leo Coriz (1913-1997) was a master jeweler from Kewa Pueblo (Santo Domingo Pueblo) . He was liked by everyone and respected for his knowledge and skills. He served in the U. S. Navy and was honored that President John F. Kennedy approved his request that he be allowed to wear his hair long. He felt this retained his Pueblo Indian heritage at the same time that he was serving his country.
$760.00
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6" c1930's Pueblo silver triple twisted wire turquoise cuff bracelet
6" c1930‘s Pueblo silver triple twisted wire turquoise cuff bracelet. Solid sterling silver, unmarked. Will fit up to a 6" wrist, gap size and other measurements in pictures. No damage.
$795.00
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Vintage Saguaro Cactus sterling, turquoise, and coral squash blossom necklace
Vintage Saguaro Cactus sterling, turquoise, and coral squash blossom necklace. 29" total length, 340 grams, other measurements in pics. This appears to have been restrung some time ago and while 95% of the beads are solid sterling silver and Native American made, there are 9 which appear to be silver plated brass some with worn plating. They are close to the Naja, the round beads with no seams. Still and nice large, rare, if not one of a kind squash blossom.
$2,995.00
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Vintage Silver and chrysocolla squash blossom necklace
Vintage Silver and chrysocolla squash blossom necklace. 29" total length, 228 grams, other measurements in pics. Solid sterling silver, marked STERLING and 925 on back of Naja with no other detectable markings.
$995.00
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Vintage Silver squash blossom necklace with coral Clark Teller
Vintage Silver squash blossom necklace with coral Clark Teller. 32" total length, 261 grams, other measurements in pics. Solid sterling silver, Somewhat illegible cursive mark on back of Naja that looks like "By Clark Teller".
$895.00
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c1970 Vidal Aragon Kewa heavy sterling bolo tie with fancy overlay tips
c1970 Vidal Aragon Kewa heavy sterling bolo tie with fancy overlay tips. Solid sterling silver, weight and measurements in pics (scale tared out with containter, weight shown is just the bolo). Fully functional with overall attractive appearance. 41" total length. Sterling slide and tips. From Santo Domingo Pueblo, Vidal Aragon (1923-2015) translated pueblo life into intricate storyteller jewelry. He became internationally renown for his inventive silver and gold overlay designs. His representations of the elements of nature, animals and pueblo life are symbolic of the Indian way. One symbol refers to “everlasting happiness. Other common motifs are animals and the tracks they make and the blessing and nourishment of corn. An expert craftsman, Aragon drew each story strip with his saw blade and soldered it to a textured oxidized underlayer to illuminate the images. He often incorporated a trademark gold disk to represent the sun or moon. Vidal Aragon learned the overlay technique in the 1930s when he was a student at the Santa Fe Indian School. Before inventing the storyteller jewelry, he experimented with tufa casting and other metalworking techniques. He briefly lived in Scottsdale where he honed his skills as a shop smith. He has fond memories of the time he spent learning ballet as a young man in Phoenix. By the early 1940s, Vidal was already being recognized alongside such prominent smiths as Ambrose Roanhorse and Tom Burnsides for his innovative yet classical designs. Aragon found his true calling though when he began to translate his rich sense of the pueblo way of life into wearable stories, often full of his unique humor.
$695.00
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30" 40's-50's Vintage Fred Harvey style stamped sterling silver concho belt/hatband
30" 40‘s-50‘s Vintage Fred Harvey style stamped sterling silver concho belt/hatband. Weight and measurements in pics. 30" long, solid sterling silver, 104 grams, apparently unmarked which is typical of Native American/Southwestern silver jewelry of this era.
$495.00
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Large Vintage Native American cast silver belt buckle with turquoise
Large Vintage Native American cast silver belt buckle with turquoise.. Solid sterling, weight and measurements in pics. Unmarked.
$375.00
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Vintage Sterling silver SSS Native American profile hand engraved belt buckle
Vintage Sterling silver SSS Native American profile hand engraved belt buckle Solid sterling, weight and measurements in pics. The center plaque is bronze I believe.
$345.00
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c1970 Frank Patania jr "Caballeros del Sol" Sterling/turquoise bolo tie
c1970 Frank Patania jr "Caballeros del Sol" Sterling/turquoise bolo tie. Solid sterling silver, weight and measurements in pics (scale tared out with containter, weight shown is just the bolo). Fully functional with overall attractive appearance. 38" total length. In 1927 Italian immigrant Frank Patania Sr. opened the Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe which sold Native American handmade arts and crafts. Patania, a trained goldsmith and fine jewelry designer, had become enamored with Native American jewelry. He quickly turned his talents to designing and fabricating sterling silver and turquoise jewelry inspired by Native designs, developing a new type of Southwest jewelry, termed “Thunderbird style which combined Mediterranean elegance with traditional Native American materials. He became known for his exquisite craftsmanship and unique jewelry designs which displayed great attention to detail. As his business grew, Patania required assistance in the workshop and in 1932 hired Charles Begay, a skilled Navajo silversmith. He became the first of many Native Americans to work for the Patanias as silversmiths in the Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe, and later also in Tucson. Some of these artists remained employed until retirement, while others, after becoming versed in the Thunderbird style, departed to work on their own, carrying with them the influence and inspiration of Patania family designs. Those who carried the Thunderbird style into their own successful careers were Lewis Lomay, Julian Lovato, Jimmie Herald and Harry Sakyesva, whose talents and body of work still resonate long after their passing. The history of the Cabaleros Del Sol- As retold by charter members Schuy Lininger and Stub Ashcraft In the mid 1920s, two doctors named Huett and Kline who specialized in the care of tubercular (TB) patients saw the need to begin touting the great dry heat of Tucson as the perfect place to be for people with lung problems. This need along with the desire of Tucson business people to get more people to visit and move to The Old Pueblo eventually evolved into an organization called the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club. Many years later, the visitors & Convention Bureau was added to the professional heading. For the next 37 years (1926- 1963), the Sunshine Climate Club grew as the premier organization to bring and develop new business to Tucson. The organization was funded in part by both the city of Tucson and Pima County. Some of the greatest early “City Fathers of Tucson served this group. As the Chamber of Commerce grew both the City and County decided to quit funding the Sunshine Climate Club as they felt there were some overlapping between the two organizations. So in 1963, two key people- Frank Drachman and Roy Miller convinced the entire Board of Directors of the Sunshine Climate Club to dissolve their Club and become a standing committee in the Tucson Chamber of Commerce. The group would be call the Caballeros Del Sol and Roy Miller (who ran the J.C. Penney store downtown) would become the first El Jefe. They put sunshine in cans, models in cactus “bathing suits and Tucson in the underwood of every travel writer in the country. “Nobody did the things we did to promote tourism says C.L. “Stubs Ashcraft, general manger back in the ‘50s of the old Tucson Sunshine Climate Club. Who else would: Scoop out the tops of two saguaro cactus arms, fashion them into a “bra, and have the end result modeled by a local high school girl? : Welcome the Cleveland Indians to town with smoke signals from atop “A Mountain? : Get the superintendent of Saguaro National Monument to draw beer from a cactus? How you gonna get “em out to the desert? With sunshine, sex and rootin tootin atmosphere. For 40 years, that was the winning formula used by the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club to bring visitors to town- until a merger put an end to all the good times. It began with a rivalry. “By 1920, Phoenixs population was the larger than Tucsons, says Roy P. Drachman, general manager of the Sunshine Climate Club, 1939- 1945. Naturally says Drachman, this “annoyed a few Tucson businessman. So car dealers Monte Mansfield and L.C. “Jessie James decided to form an organization to promote tourism. In 1922, the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club held its first meeting. Far from feeling usurped, the Chamber of Commerce welcomed the move, says Drachman. “There was a lot of overlap. Many of the same members served on both boards. Money came from local businesses, which bought up memberships, and from the city and county, which helped pay for advertising in publications across the country. Back then, Tucson was still considered a health mecca. “I think we spent more money in the American Medical Association Journal than any other publication, says Drachman. When he took over as manager in 1939, Drachman hired two photographers, Chuck Abbot and Robert Burns, who took pictures of prominent folk visiting the desert and then sent the photos to various news organizations, where they received wide play. “We had a clipping service, says Drachman. “We kept big sheets of brown paper covered with clippings we got back from photos we had sent out. The club also co- sponsored a modeling club, using high school girls, mainly from Tucson High, to sell the Old Pueblo. “Wed put them in a pair of boots, shorts, shirt and a hat and send them out in the desert with Ray Manley, says Ashcraft. “Wed put them up against a cactus or in a field of poppies, anything for publicity. The Clubs finest hour for cheesecake however, probably came during Drachmans reign. “We hollowed the tops out of a saguaro cactus and made a bra, says Drachman.“Then we took prickly pear cactus pads and cut all the thorns off and hung them on wire for a skirt. Then we put a model from Tucson High in that outfit and took her picture. Life magazine printed it, full page. By the time Ashcraft came on board as the general manager in 1952, the publicity machine was in high gear. “I used to lie awake at nights thinking of things to do. Such as passing out cans of “sunshine. Or posing a model in a $ 3,500.00 pair of mink “jeans. Or having the Cleveland Indians pull a stagecoach with their manager on board, cracking the whip. Naturally all of this was photographed for play in the Eastern papers. Ashcrafts golden moment may have come in 1955, when a group of travel writers arrived in town on a junket sponsored by American Airlines. “First thing we did was take them downtown and get them outfitted with jeans, shirts, boots and a hat, says Ashcraft. Then they took them to the Forty Niners Ranch for a party.“The next morning, most of these folks had hangovers like you couldnt believe, says Ashcraft. “Then we got them up on horses for a ride to Saguaro National Monument. By the time we got them there, their tongues were hanging out by a mile. What the writers didnt know was that a chuck wagon filled with draft beer had been set up at the monument. Standing next to the chuck wagon was a mannequin in a squaw dress, and next to the mannequin was a saguaro cactus, with a thin tube running through it. The tube was a conduit, allowing beer to flow from a keg in the chuck wagon to a spigot on the outside of the cactus. “After we got there, we had John Lewis, who was the superintendent of the monument, give this talk on the flora and the fauna of the desert, says Ashcraft. “It was the most boring thing you had ever heard. Then he bent over and the mannequins hand fell on the spigot and the beer started to flow. You should have seen the eyes of those travel writers. As with most of the clubs stunts, this one, says Ashcraft, followed the script “right down to a gnats eyebrow. Such was not the case, however, the day the club welcomed the Cleveland Indians to town with a smoke- signal greeting. Every year when the Cleveland Indians came to town for spring training, we tried to top what we had done the year before, says Ashcraft. “So I thought, ‘Ah, lets welcome ‘em with smoke signals. “I went down to Indian Village Trading Post. They had an Indian there who did sand painting, and I said, ‘Freddy I dont remember his last name- ‘Do you know how to make smoke signals? He said yes, ‘Sure, so we arranged it. Ashcraft also arranged for American Airlines, which was bringing the team to town, to fly directly over “A Mountain where the signals would be sent. The day arrived. “It was a nasty damn day, recalls Ashcraft. “The wind must have been blowing about 100 miles per hour. And of course we had invited the local press and photographers there. Ray Manley was there and for some reason he had brought along a couple of old tires. It never dawned on any of us the consequences of what we were about to do. “So we got the fire started and Ray threw the tires on it and the black smoke started pouring out. Then the sheriffs car came up the road, its lights blinking. They didnt want to come all the way up, and they were hollering at us to come down. We were scared to death. “Well, people were calling all over. “A Mountain used to be a volcano and people thought it was erupting again. “Anyway, the time came for the plane to come over. Freddy has the blanket. Here comes the plane. Freddy and his friend put the blanket down over the tire- and it burned a hole right in the middle of the damned blanket. “I said, ‘Freddy, what in the hell happened? He said, ‘I forgot. We were supposed to wet the blanket. In 1962, the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club merged with the Chamber of Commerce Industrial Development Board, in an effort to strengthen the chamber and do away with duplication of effort. “That killed the club, says Ashcraft. But not its past deeds. “When we started out, we were getting the tourists, says Ashcraft. “They liked it and came back as winter visitors. Then they decide to retire here. We had businessmen come here, decide to have a convention, then relocate their businesses here. Now, there isnt the Western atmosphere anymore. Asked if perhaps the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club did its job to well, Ashcraft sits and reflects by the pool of a midtown hotel, a hundred feet away from the rush of the traffic along Alvernon Way. Finally, the words come: “If I could do it all over again, I wouldnt do it. I loved the Old Pueblo.
$685.00
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Vintage Native American sterling sunface belt buckle overlay design
Vintage Native American sterling sunface belt buckle overlay design. Solid sterling silver with weight and measurements in pics. Fully functional, with appropriate wear as shown in the pictures. Picto-hallmarked as shown with sterling mark.
$245.00
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Large Daniel Coriz Kewa high grade turquoise spiny oyster intarsia inlay pendant
Large Daniel Coriz Kewa high grade turquoise spiny oyster intarsia inlay pendant. Nice pendant from the last quarter of the 20th century, no issues. Solid sterling silver with weight and measurements in pictures. DANIEL CORIZ KEWA (Santo Domingo Pueblo) Jeweler For Daniel, you get the sense that it is all about doing your best and being there for others. Whether as a father, a son, a grandson, on the council of his tribe, as mayor of Kewa or lieutenant governor of Kewa, or as an artist, Daniel wants to do his best. And for him, his best must honor the best of his family because Daniel is carrying on their traditions, not only of jewelry-making but also of serving the village. Daniel learned the hand-grinding of stones into beads from his mother, Nestoria Coriz. Nestoria was a child herself, only 14, when she started making jewelry. Daniel learned lapidary from his grandfather, Lupe Pena. He grew up with jewelry-making all around him. But he had other responsibilties in his life, too, like taking care of 150 chickens, hogs and sheep. As the oldest he was responsible. His family also pushed him to get an education and for awhile he pursued a degree in electronics. But then he had a son, and strove to meet his new responsibilities by joining the army reserves and studying nursing. Jewelry making paid the way. And kept paying the way. Even as he then sought more responsibilities within the village. In 2007, Daniel became mayor of Kewa and also was on the village council. At 42, he was the youngest man by twenty years to ever be on the council. He served as mayor twice, and then in 2012 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Kewa. The day he was accepted onto the council, he first went to the house of his father, Lupe Pena. Lupe‘s own father, Santiago Pena, had been governor of Kewa five times. Lupe himself had been War Chief four times. Daniel opened the door to Lupe‘s home and was confronted with a room full of the other council members. Across the room, Daniel found the face of his father and focused there, not letting his eyes stray from the strength he saw there as he made his way through the crowd of elders. His father took Daniel‘s face in his hands and said, “You can do this. It wasn‘t fear that made Daniel hesitate as much as wanting to honor and serve, a need to help. Daniel says, "I am always learning. Trying to improve life for the young ones." It‘s the idea of a lasting legacy that seems to drive Daniel the most. Not only in his service to his village, but also in his jewelry. For Daniel, it‘s the thought that something he made will be around when he‘s gone. It‘s the vision of a person‘s eyes lighting up seeing his work. And what we can tell is that it matters to him to make people happy, to help and to make a difference in the lives of others.
$595.00
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Hand Stamped Southwestern silver trinket box with mother of pearl
Hand Stamped Southwestern silver trinket box with mother of pearl. Marked and tested silver, very well made. 2 3/8" x 1 5/8" x 1 5/8" tall 43.2 grams, hand stamped. Unsure of maker but it seems Navajo. trinketdrawer
$265.00
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vintage Frank Patania Thunderbird Shop "Caballeros del Sol" Sterling/turquoise bolo tie
vintage Frank Patania Thunderbird Shop "Caballeros del Sol" Sterling/turquoise bolo tie. Solid sterling silver, weight and measurements in pics (scale tared out with containter, weight shown is just the bolo). Fully functional with overall attractive appearance. 38" total length. In 1927 Italian immigrant Frank Patania Sr. opened the Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe which sold Native American handmade arts and crafts. Patania, a trained goldsmith and fine jewelry designer, had become enamored with Native American jewelry. He quickly turned his talents to designing and fabricating sterling silver and turquoise jewelry inspired by Native designs, developing a new type of Southwest jewelry, termed “Thunderbird style which combined Mediterranean elegance with traditional Native American materials. He became known for his exquisite craftsmanship and unique jewelry designs which displayed great attention to detail. As his business grew, Patania required assistance in the workshop and in 1932 hired Charles Begay, a skilled Navajo silversmith. He became the first of many Native Americans to work for the Patanias as silversmiths in the Thunderbird Shop in Santa Fe, and later also in Tucson. Some of these artists remained employed until retirement, while others, after becoming versed in the Thunderbird style, departed to work on their own, carrying with them the influence and inspiration of Patania family designs. Those who carried the Thunderbird style into their own successful careers were Lewis Lomay, Julian Lovato, Jimmie Herald and Harry Sakyesva, whose talents and body of work still resonate long after their passing. The history of the Cabaleros Del Sol- As retold by charter members Schuy Lininger and Stub Ashcraft In the mid 1920s, two doctors named Huett and Kline who specialized in the care of tubercular (TB) patients saw the need to begin touting the great dry heat of Tucson as the perfect place to be for people with lung problems. This need along with the desire of Tucson business people to get more people to visit and move to The Old Pueblo eventually evolved into an organization called the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club. Many years later, the visitors & Convention Bureau was added to the professional heading. For the next 37 years (1926- 1963), the Sunshine Climate Club grew as the premier organization to bring and develop new business to Tucson. The organization was funded in part by both the city of Tucson and Pima County. Some of the greatest early “City Fathers of Tucson served this group. As the Chamber of Commerce grew both the City and County decided to quit funding the Sunshine Climate Club as they felt there were some overlapping between the two organizations. So in 1963, two key people- Frank Drachman and Roy Miller convinced the entire Board of Directors of the Sunshine Climate Club to dissolve their Club and become a standing committee in the Tucson Chamber of Commerce. The group would be call the Caballeros Del Sol and Roy Miller (who ran the J.C. Penney store downtown) would become the first El Jefe. They put sunshine in cans, models in cactus “bathing suits and Tucson in the underwood of every travel writer in the country. “Nobody did the things we did to promote tourism says C.L. “Stubs Ashcraft, general manger back in the ‘50s of the old Tucson Sunshine Climate Club. Who else would: : Scoop out the tops of two saguaro cactus arms, fashion them into a “bra, and have the end result modeled by a local high school girl? : Welcome the Cleveland Indians to town with smoke signals from atop “A Mountain? : Get the superintendent of Saguaro National Monument to draw beer from a cactus? How you gonna get “em out to the desert? With sunshine, sex and rootin tootin atmosphere. For 40 years, that was the winning formula used by the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club to bring visitors to town- until a merger put an end to all the good times. It began with a rivalry. “By 1920, Phoenixs population was the larger than Tucsons, says Roy P. Drachman, general manager of the Sunshine Climate Club, 1939- 1945. Naturally says Drachman, this “annoyed a few Tucson businessman. So car dealers Monte Mansfield and L.C. “Jessie James decided to form an organization to promote tourism. In 1922, the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club held its first meeting. Far from feeling usurped, the Chamber of Commerce welcomed the move, says Drachman. “There was a lot of overlap. Many of the same members served on both boards. Money came from local businesses, which bought up memberships, and from the city and county, which helped pay for advertising in publications across the country. Back then, Tucson was still considered a health mecca. “I think we spent more money in the American Medical Association Journal than any other publication, says Drachman. When he took over as manager in 1939, Drachman hired two photographers, Chuck Abbot and Robert Burns, who took pictures of prominent folk visiting the desert and then sent the photos to various news organizations, where they received wide play. “We had a clipping service, says Drachman. “We kept big sheets of brown paper covered with clippings we got back from photos we had sent out. The club also co- sponsored a modeling club, using high school girls, mainly from Tucson High, to sell the Old Pueblo. “Wed put them in a pair of boots, shorts, shirt and a hat and send them out in the desert with Ray Manley, says Ashcraft. “Wed put them up against a cactus or in a field of poppies, anything for publicity. The Clubs finest hour for cheesecake however, probably came during Drachmans reign. “We hollowed the tops out of a saguaro cactus and made a bra, says Drachman.“Then we took prickly pear cactus pads and cut all the thorns off and hung them on wire for a skirt. Then we put a model from Tucson High in that outfit and took her picture. Life magazine printed it, full page. By the time Ashcraft came on board as the general manager in 1952, the publicity machine was in high gear. “I used to lie awake at nights thinking of things to do. Such as passing out cans of “sunshine. Or posing a model in a $ 3,500.00 pair of mink “jeans. Or having the Cleveland Indians pull a stagecoach with their manager on board, cracking the whip. Naturally all of this was photographed for play in the Eastern papers. Ashcrafts golden moment may have come in 1955, when a group of travel writers arrived in town on a junket sponsored by American Airlines. “First thing we did was take them downtown and get them outfitted with jeans, shirts, boots and a hat, says Ashcraft. Then they took them to the Forty Niners Ranch for a party. “The next morning, most of these folks had hangovers like you couldnt believe, says Ashcraft. “Then we got them up on horses for a ride to Saguaro National Monument. By the time we got them there, their tongues were hanging out by a mile. What the writers didnt know was that a chuck wagon filled with draft beer had been set up at the monument. Standing next to the chuck wagon was a mannequin in a squaw dress, and next to the mannequin was a saguaro cactus, with a thin tube running through it. The tube was a conduit, allowing beer to flow from a keg in the chuck wagon to a spigot on the outside of the cactus. “After we got there, we had John Lewis, who was the superintendent of the monument, give this talk on the flora and the fauna of the desert, says Ashcraft. “It was the most boring thing you had ever heard. Then he bent over and the mannequins hand fell on the spigot and the beer started to flow. You should have seen the eyes of those travel writers. As with most of the clubs stunts, this one, says Ashcraft, followed the script “right down to a gnats eyebrow. Such was not the case, however, the day the club welcomed the Cleveland Indians to town with a smoke- signal greeting. “Every year when the Cleveland Indians came to town for spring training, we tried to top what we had done the year before, says Ashcraft. “So I thought, ‘Ah, lets welcome ‘em with smoke signals. “I went down to Indian Village Trading Post. They had an Indian there who did sand painting, and I said, ‘Freddy I dont remember his last name- ‘Do you know how to make smoke signals? He said yes, ‘Sure, so we arranged it. Ashcraft also arranged for American Airlines, which was bringing the team to town, to fly directly over “A Mountain where the signals would be sent. The day arrived. “It was a nasty damn day, recalls Ashcraft. “The wind must have been blowing about 100 miles per hour. And of course we had invited the local press and photographers there. Ray Manley was there and for some reason he had brought along a couple of old tires. It never dawned on any of us the consequences of what we were about to do. “So we got the fire started and Ray threw the tires on it and the black smoke started pouring out. Then the sheriffs car came up the road, its lights blinking. They didnt want to come all the way up, and they were hollering at us to come down. We were scared to death. “Well, people were calling all over. “A Mountain used to be a volcano and people thought it was erupting again. “Anyway, the time came for the plane to come over. Freddy has the blanket. Here comes the plane. Freddy and his friend put the blanket down over the tire- and it burned a hole right in the middle of the damned blanket. “I said, ‘Freddy, what in the hell happened? He said, ‘I forgot. We were supposed to wet the blanket. In 1962, the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club merged with the Chamber of Commerce Industrial Development Board, in an effort to strengthen the chamber and do away with duplication of effort. “That killed the club, says Ashcraft. But not its past deeds. “When we started out, we were getting the tourists, says Ashcraft. “They liked it and came back as winter visitors. Then they decide to retire here. We had businessmen come here, decide to have a convention, then relocate their businesses here. Now, there isnt the Western atmosphere anymore. Asked if perhaps the Tucson Sunshine Climate Club did its job to well, Ashcraft sits and reflects by the pool of a midtown hotel, a hundred feet away from the rush of the traffic along Alvernon Way. Finally, the words come: “If I could do it all over again, I wouldnt do it. I loved the Old Pueblo.
$685.00
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58" Large Vintage Sterling and turquoise cluster concho belt
58" Large Vintage Sterling and turquoise cluster concho belt. (Solid sterling silver, with typical copper loops) No detectable markings, likely Navajo made from the last half of the 20th century. 58" total length, 53" to the last hole, can be worn shorter of course(there are existing holes around 34-36"), other measurements in pictures 787 grams total weight. Very good vintage condition with no significant issues, no cracks in turquoise stones. 9 Conchos and 1 Buckle (10 total)
$3,250.00
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Vintage Native American sterling, turquoise/coral bear paw bolo tie
Vintage Native American sterling, turquoise/coral bear paw bolo tie. Solid sterling, weight and measurements in pics (scale tared out with containter, weight shown is just the bolo). No damage, sterling tips and bolo slide. Hallmarked as shown. From huge collection so well preserved, 41" total length.
$395.00
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Dan Nieto, Kewa Sterling necklace with high grade turquoise
Dan Nieto, Kewa Sterling necklace with high grade turquoise. Life sized hand for<br>scale. 23" long, 145.6 grams.<br><br>Bottom pendant 4" tall x 2.25" wide. Dan Nieto, Kewa (Santo Domingo) Pueblo<br>jewelry designer whose pieces are unique and without equal. His ‘gift‘ was<br>incorporating figural imagery into his design. This ring shows you that it‘s<br>more than just a beautiful sterling silver ring with a deep dark Azurite stone.<br>Dan Nieto often featured a striking indigenous person--presumably a woman--into<br>his silverwork. Her long hair is decorated with a feather. Her profile is<br>distinctive as she looks upward to the sky.
$1,650.00
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6.625" 30's-40's IH Coin silver thunderbird fred harvey cuff bracelet
6 5/8" 30‘s-40‘s IH Coin silver thunderbird fred harvey cuff bracelet. Solid sterling silver with weights and measurements in pics. Good condition with no issues.
$245.00
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Vintage M Native American sterling channel inlay belt buckle turquoise/coral
Vintage M Native American sterling channel inlay belt buckle turquoise/coral. Solid sterling silver, Stamped M Sterling. Weight and measurements in pics. Nice buckle circa last quarter of the 20th century.
$495.00
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LA Native American sterling Charoite pendant/beaded necklace
LA Native American sterling Charoite pendant/beaded necklace. Weight and measurements in pics, all solid sterling.
$425.00
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Lion Native American Carico Lake turquoise, Kingman, jasper sterling belt buckle
Native American Carico Lake turquoise, Kingman, jasper, and tiger‘s eye sterling belt buckle. Solid sterling silver, marked as shown. Weight and measurements in pics. No detectable issues, unsure of artist.
$1,250.00
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6" Sturdy Vintage Native American Turquoise Sterling cuff bracelet
Sturdy Vintage Native American Turquoise Sterling cuff bracelet. Very nice sturdy cuff with beautiful turquoise from the mid 20th century, unmarked 59<br>grams, .5" wide, 1" gap, fits up to a 6" wrist. A very sturdy cuff for it‘s<br>size, very well made with no issues.
$680.00
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6" 30's-40's Pueblo silver twisted wire cuff bracelet with nice turquoise
6" 30‘s-40‘s Pueblo silver twisted wire cuff bracelet with nice turquoise. Solid sterling silver with weights and measurements in pics. Well made, clean cuff bracelet circa second quarter of 20th century.
$545.00
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6" Vintage Southwestern sterling and turquoise cuff bracelet
6" Vintage Southwestern sterling and turquoise cuff bracelet. No issues. All precious metals are tested and guaranteed, any Native American jewelry<br>referred to as Silver or Sterling is guaranteed to be a minimum of 90% (coin) silver and possibly higher content. Anything marked is guaranteed to be what<br>i.t‘s marked, most bracelets are photographed on a 6" wrist (non hairy), rings<br>photographed on the appropriate sized finger when possible. With bracelets if<br>the measurement is not given in the description then inside circumference is<br>shown where the metal meets the number on the the cloth tape measure.
$145.00