Featured NEZ mark on earrings - Confused

I found a pair of sterling earrings that I thought were marked INEZ when I did a quick look in the store. Upon closer examination I think it simply stamped "NEZ", as well as sterling. When I checked the silver makers mark site, I don't come up with NEZ, but a general web search keeps bringing up famous Native American artists with the family name of Nez. In my opinion, these are not reflective of the style of these pieces. Is there a generic NEZ mark for Navajo work, or am I barking up the wrong tree. As always, any help would be gratefully appreciated.

 

It looks like NEZ to me but I see nothing particularly NA about them although there are plenty of NA artists who don’t do traditional work. I think by putting NEZ in the title if selling on the internet you’ll attract some NA collectors too but I wouldn’t push it more than that. Not sure if I’d even suggest “Southwestern” as I think that puts a definite negative spin on those looking for contemporary jewelry. Others will identify the stone (I think agate) and you can call them “Modernist Square Sterling Silver Agate Signed NEZ Clip Earrings”.

 

Thank you for your in depth analysis. These are important considerations and I appreciate you translating them into specific wording for marketing purposes.

 

Hey KBE-always happy if I can contribute but you could definitely play those off Southwestern too-I just don’t think they’re “that” collector although I collect both traditional NA jewelry and Modern Non NA jewelry. No idea if that’s unusual or not.

 

There's a jewelry designer named Dee Nez who uses the same font but she signs with her full name. Apparently she's been designing for a while; might be an earlier version of her mark.

Debora

 

I used to have several pieces that I found while crisscrossing the US during many camping trips. Unfortunately, I divested myself of everything, when I switched from silver jewelry to a broader range including older pieces about 20 years ago. I now have a few things that I have acquired over the intervening years, but all the heavy silver cuffs, watchbands, rings, earrings, pendants, necklaces etc. all were sold for melt. Stupid me.

 

Debora, You are a wonder! I got lost in the many family members and their marks. Thank you. Kiko

 

Nez is such a common surname. Dee Nez is carried by Garlands and their Sedona store is usually very gracious and helpful so KBE could contact them but stamping aside the earrings look 80s/90s to me and Dee’s work is definitely NA-“modern”traditional at most. I’d expect an artist to go from traditional to modern with age, not the reverse but a quick email would answer that.

 

Wonderful advice. I'll contact them. I'll report back.

 

The stone looks like the jasper I've known to be called leopard stone.

 

Excellent. It certainly looks like a leopard now that you mention it. Thanks

 

Mmmmm..... clips..............want.

 

They look better in the pictures.

 

There are several petrified corals or plants that have that look. I can't see them close enough to tell. If so, South Wes NA s used a lot of petrified coral and such for jewelry . My mother has a place in Sedona and I see it often in the modern Jewelry especially.

 

Respectfully that is not coral and I live in the SW. It is chalcedony IMO and I should have said jasper (as stated by Bronwen)instead of agate as it’s opaque. Petrified coral has a more regular floral-like
patterning.

 

I thought so as well but could not see clearly.

 

Lark, Thank you so much. Here is a closer picture of the stone.



Your insight netted a link to the word "JNEZ" on the back and petrified coral earrings.
Vintage NEZ STERLING ORANGE OYSTER GEMSTONE “FETISH” DANGLE CLIP EARRINGS-Navajo | eBay

 

Thank you. I found a number of pieces based on a jasper search with NEZ, and found several. One with a J NEZ, Old Pawn J Nez Sterling Silver Petrified Wood Leopard Jasper Cabochon Earrings | eBay
but nothing with just NEZ.

 

You lead me to another piece that just had NEZ, so thank you. Correction: JNEZ. Got to see some pretty stuff anyway

 

What petrified coral? What am I missing? Those are spiney oyster. What’s odd to me is that those are non traditional for sure but still screamingly NA to me and yours aren’t. I would never think of yours as NA if it weren’t for the stamp and the stone.