Description
Orville Tsinnie Navajo sterling turquoise earrings.
Orville Tsinnie (1943-2017) was a Navajo artist and master silversmith who has been featured in the American Indian art world for over 25 years. He was born in Tuba City, Arizona in 1943 and lived and worked in Shiprock, New Mexico. Tsinnie learned jewelry making from his Hopi brother-in-law in the 1970s and has since won many awards, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Indian Arts and Crafts Association.
All precious metals are tested and guaranteed. A Native American jewelry piece referred to as "silver" or "ingot" is guaranteed to be at least 90% silver. I rarely use the word "sterling" when referring to older Native American silver or really any older silver jewelry as silver contents vary and "sterling" is 92.5% silver. No older jewelry is going to be exactly 92.5% silver, some a little over, some a little under. It wasn't an exact thing with handmade jewelry. I've seen thousands of pieces xrf'd to prove this. Bracelets are photographed on a 6" women's wrist.
