Indian silver and agate jewelry

Some more pieces from my grandmother, given to me 35+ years ago. The silver is much heavier than similar modern pieces. Any info is appreciated.

 

Hello, lesliem. What message are you getting re: why your photo is not displaying? If you put it in the Gallery, make sure you have it set for public viewing, not private.

 

I will try again. No problem loading pics in previous posts. :/

 

I will try again. No problem loading pics in previous posts. :/

 

These are the pieces I referred to in the previous posts.

 

Now we have the photo, could you disambiguate 'Indian' for us? Are there any marks?

 

the items with stones may be Navajo.....it would help to see more pics and a close up of the back.

the twist , does not seem to be NA.....unless it's marked.

 

Can remember a lot of similar NA twisted wire bracelets in the 1980s-'90s, in silver and also copper...

~Cheryl

 

Yes,they copied the design from medieval,vikings and probably the Romans.But without a maker's mark or a receipt from a NA maker,anyone could have made it.

 

Maker's marks on Navajo jewellery are usually on the back, often initials and sterling.
I agree, Navajo also made twist bracelets. There were already twist bracelets among 19th century Navajo cuff bracelets. But without a mark it could have been made in many parts of the world.

 

Quick look through 'Southwest Indian Jewelry from the Doneghy Collection' (1982) turns up a near identical bracelet, one of a pair, IDed as Hopi, made by Lewis Lomay about 1950. Am not suggesting this was the maker of the OP's piece, but found it interesting that while I ususally associate them with the Navajo, they were apparently Hopi-made too...

~Cheryl

 

The overlay style we now identify as Hopi was developed for WWII veterans, so they would have a trade and an income. Before that the few Hopi silversmiths there were, made jewellery in the same style as the Navajo, mostly European inspired.
Lewis Lomay was already making jewellery in the 1930s. In 1950 he was considered one of the 'older' generation, pre-overlay so to speak. So his work was similar to Navajo work.