Native American Jewelry

[Narragansett]

When my time is done in RI this summer, I need to get my head into the disposition of a lot of Native American jewelry. My mother had collected/ invested/ accumulated in several shoeboxes full of this stuff. Mostly silver with turquoise and red coral. There are necklaces, cuffs, bracelets, rings and earrings. Some are sets of all 3, like necklace, bracelet and earrings all matching.

A lot of this came from Wyoming and the Southwest, with some pieces coming from transplanted Native Americans here in RI.

There are many squash blossom necklaces. Some being full chest coverage. All of this is 50 years plus old, or at least a good portion is.

I have to take pics and market this stuff, after I determine a value.

Any suggestions? Anybody know a guy? I have been told that some of these necklaces could be worth thousands.

My goal would be to sell this off to collectors, not roadside dealers in a camper.

Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The best I can do is a Grandpa Brag, Granddaughter modeling a Classic squash Blossom. Belongs to her Dad’s family.

 

[Ματθιας]

I know of a couple, here, in the ABQ area that deal in that jewelry. But, they'll give you less than wholesale.

Just google "new mexico native american jewelry buyers"

If it were me, I'd go auction.

 

[Erich]

Agreed, don't deal with New Mexico - and don't clean anything (let the auction people handle any patina). Look, what I have bought here in NM for $600 ("old pawn"), I've seen its equivalents for sale in Manhattan for $13,000 - and that was in the Nineties when the dollar kinda meant more. You are right to think collectors. Don't think yokel dealers, though - call folks who deal wth the snoots, like these guys: Native American Art | African & Oceanic Art | Sotheby'''s
You want to buy at a good price, go to Crown Point or Ganado; you want to sell go to where the money is.

 

[Heinz]

Pete, do not clean it and deal with a top level national Art Auction house like Sotheby's, Christie's, Phillips, Bonhams, and Heritage Auctions. The stuff can vary wildly in value and you need some one good to give you an honest number. I have been around a lot of it and know nothing about how to tell which pieces are really good.

 

[Golddollar]

When you find an outlet for the sale of this jewelry, please let us know. I really like vintage silver and turquoise.

 

[Narragansett]

The best I can do is a Grandpa Brag, Granddaughter modeling a Classic squash Blossom. Belongs to her Dad’s family.

She is quite a young beauty

 

[Alk8944]

The best I can do is a Grandpa Brag, Granddaughter modeling a Classic squash Blossom. Belongs to her Dad’s family.

Oooh, Nice! Pretty necklace too.

I can say that, I am 80 years old.

 

[4T5GUY]

Any “Hallmarks.” That is any of the examples have a “signature” or initials? That makes a BIG $$$$ difference.

My mom collected SW Native American jewelry mostly interested in Kingman turquoise. She liked to travel to AZ and she bought some nice pieces back then.

Most artists “marks” can be easily be identified on line although it seems that new makers are prioritized. Popular artists bring a premium of course. Vintage ones more.

One of my most favorite books I have is Portraits of Silver and Turquoise. Beautiful Native American women, (of all ages and tribes,) wearing their tribal specific jewelry.

Jim

 

[Bekeart]

SWMBO would like to know.

When you find an outlet for the sale of this jewelry, please let us know. I really like vintage silver and turquoise.

Please advise me also.

SWMBO would be interested.

I would be willing buyer.

Bekeart

 

[Dave.357]

I have a camper so I will not
Be on your list.
Good luck!

 

[SMSgt]

The best I can do is a Grandpa Brag, Granddaughter modeling a Classic squash Blossom. Belongs to her Dad’s family.

That must weigh a ton.
(The necklace, not the GD.)

 

[H Richard]

If you can determine the ID of the maker it can make a big difference on the value. Some makers are sought after.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Lots of this style of Jewelry is heavy.
A while I went +P on a Turquoise chunk necklace.
It was so heavy it hurt my Bride’s neck.
I got it from Bien Mur, well known local store.
The manager lived lived across from us and no problem exchanging.
But she kept it!
It’s Kingman turquoise and the manager dude comes from a mining family there. Kingman is most likely the current largest producer of American turquoise.
Home | Bien Mur Indian Market Center | Local New Mexican Artists

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Saw this Senior Navajo Couple at Walmart in Farmington, NM.
She was wearing a traditional long skirt. He was wearing overalls.
Between them, they were wearing a minimum of 10 pounds of turquoise jewelry.

 

[swsig]

In 1905, my great-grandmother, Mary, inherited a silver mine near Prescott, Arizona Territory. She promptly divorced my great-grandfather and hauled her 10 year-old daughter (my grandmother) to Prescott to run the mine. Mary made the trip into a grand tour as they went up Pike's Peak and down into the Grand Canyon along the way. She also acquired some Native American jewelry, some of which I've inherited. I'm sure they were purchased as tourist trinkets, but it's interesting to see what tourists were buying in 1905. They are pictured below. It's sad to see that a once-sacred symbol was desecrated by you-know-who years later.

As to the silver mine, all it ever produced was cave-ins. Mary sold it and moved to Chicago in 1912, so I never got the chance to become the Silver King of Prescott. Interestingly, the mine was up for sale a couple of years ago, and I could have purchased it for only $75,000. Not much for a producing mine, but all it produced for the 110 years after Mary sold it was more cave-ins.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Interesting! Have seen that symbol in petroglyphs, but never in Jewelry.

 

[TheHobbyist]

NA jewelry was something that I shared a collecting interest with my Mom and Dad. Dad really liked the bolo's and belt buckles, with the occasional ring. I still enjoy collecting pieces when I find them.

Food for thought (IMHO):

- The jewelry is very collectible, regardless of the market.

- It is important to ID the artist, which may be initials, a symbol or based on the materials used (some higher-end pieces will be diamond/gold and stylistically will indicate the artist if not signed).

-Erich gave good advice on selling higher-value items, but remember an auction can also be a roll of the dice and they will determine if your items meet the requirement (value, rarity, etc.) to be included.

You shouldn't have an issue divesting and if you feel so inclined, after you get the facts of what you have, consider a listing here.

 

[WR Moore]

The best I can do is a Grandpa Brag, Granddaughter modeling a Classic squash Blossom. Belongs to her Dad’s family.

Necklace, what necklace?

 

[FredBart]

Consider purchasing the book “ Evolving Designs-Jewelry by Southwest American Indians” by Nancy N. Schiffer, Schiffer Publishing, PA. $60.00. There is a lot to learn about this subject, some of which is available on the internet.
The big auction houses really don’t specialize in this art form. They may have occasional sales that you can consign to. The centers of this trade are Scottsdale, Jackson WY and Denver. Santa Fe NM was the world center, but NM went down badly in the pandemic and many stores closed.
Do a lot of research. There are many rip off artists in this business.