Vintage Helen Long Navajo Sterling silver high grade turquoise Kachina bolo tie.. Tested and guaranteed solid sterling silver slide and tips. Weight and measurements in pictures. Great bolo, 44" long with no issues. Tray is tared out, so weight shown is just the bolo of course. Great bolo from the third quarter of the 20th century.
Helen Long is the Matriarch of a wonderful family of Navajo Silversmiths. She was married to Jimmie Long, a well known Navajo jeweler in his own right. They are both deceased, but left a permanent mark on Native American Jewelry. Helen is best known for her work in creating Sterling Silver Kachinas and Yei figures and creating them as jewelry pieces. She was featured in Arizona Highways Magazine in the 1970s, showcasing her unique skillset.
Her daughter, Ella Long, is a talented silversmith and bead roller. Helen's grandson, Toby Henderson followed in her footsteps and has perfected the art of three dimensional sterling silver Kachinas and Navajo Yeis.
Examples of her work are included in the Peabody Museum, Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. She is referenced in Barton Wright's book Hallmarks of the Southwest as well as in Gregory Schaaf's volume American Indian Jewelry I 1,200 Artist Biographies.
