Featured Triangular Turquoise Pendant in Silver; Unmarked.

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by wlwhittier, Feb 25, 2023.

  1. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    ~2 1/4" long, ~1 5/8 wide, weighs 35.4 grams. Looks like it has never been polished; the silver is black. No makers mark, or alloy indicator.
    I have no recollection about where or when I acquired this piece.

    I'm particularly interested in which mine the stone looks like it may be from...the color is an intense blue I haven seen except in pics. And if the design in the silver is tribal-characteristic, that would be a bonus!
    Thanks for lookin'!

    D8D2C261-D985-4599-BF25-8E6956E609EE_4_5005_c.jpeg
    9726B01D-4110-4848-A3AE-C46274C0F2E4_4_5005_c.jpeg
    31645EC0-0CD4-4E70-BCFD-EC8AB67C7C50_4_5005_c.jpeg
     
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  2. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    The style looks to be Navajo.
    Turquoise may be Kingman. Just a guess.
     
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  3. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    Thank you, stracci!
     
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  4. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    SW style,turquoise could have come a one of a dozen or more mines. Hobbyist were making SW style from at least the 1960's copied designs published in Arizona Highways magazine and Lapidary magazines. Indian Jewelry Making by Oscar Bronson published in 1977 showed how to make SW style.
     
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  5. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    Here's an example of Kingman, kinda like yours.
    Is the color of your turquoise accurate in your photo?
    Is it true blue or a little on the green side? I know turquoise is hard to photograph.
    Are there any pyrite specks in your piece? Pyrite is common in turquoise from Arizona and northern Mexico.
    It can be really hard to ID turquoise.
    Screenshot_20230225-184458~2.png
     
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  6. reader

    reader Well-Known Member

    Nice pendant. I come from the school that turquoise should never be mine attributed unless there’s credible documentation by a known artist, dealer or miner who pulled it out. It is IMO of some age and can be described as Vintage Southwestern Sterling Silver (assuming it tests as such) Turquoise Pendant Traditional Leaf Motif. Yes it is Navajo in design but may or may not be NA so can only be described as Southwestern.
     
  7. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    Unless @wlwhittier needs the correct wording to list this item on eBay, I don't see what is wrong with trying to ID this piece.

    Don't we all want to know more about what we have?
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2023
  8. reader

    reader Well-Known Member

    Absolutely but again, I don’t believe in mine attribution without documentation when the piece is in hand let alone off internet pictures. JMO
     
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  9. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    I can't afford to send all my NA turquoise to GIA for origin reports......! ;):p
     
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  10. reader

    reader Well-Known Member

    Nor could I which is why I don’t even try to guess at attributing mines. The only piece in my collection I’d ever state origin on is a Cerrillos buckle. I know who made it snd I know the smith mined his own turquoise from the Cerrillos mine and it’s screamingly Cerrillos green.

    That being said, I’m only giving my opinion on mine attribution to others on the internet.

    Beside multiple veins in mines varying greatly, age and oils can drastically change color beside photo variance. From my own pics I’m sometimes shocked at the degree of change from reality.
     
  11. wlwhittier

    wlwhittier Well-Known Member

    I'm gonna try to get a couple good pics in sunlight, as soon as the sun appears...'tho it may be awhile. Yes, pyrite...an' it shows precious little green; it is a very sharp blue.
    I recognize reader's point...but yours are, from our perspective, equally valid I believe. If I ever list it, I'll be sure to observe all protocol.
     
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  12. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    Looking forward to more photos when you get time to post them.
    It's a beautiful and large piece!
     
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  13. Lark

    Lark Well-Known Member

    Like the discussion. Good info for those that do intend to resell
     
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  14. stracci

    stracci Well-Known Member

    That's why I said "looks to be" Navajo and "may be" Kingman. We can't know 100%.
    But for personal information, I like to at least make an educated guess about my NA jewelry.
    Some styles and stones are very distinct.
     
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  15. reader

    reader Well-Known Member

    That is true but at least once every other month or so I get a call on Lander Blue. Wonder if any of it actually is.
     
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