This is a stunningly
beautiful ingot bracelet with exquisite craftsmanship. The 17 had cut turquoise
stones are a rich blue color with a black and reddish/brown matrix. The beautiful
stones are old Burnham turquoise from Nevada.
The stones are all
set in smooth bezels, with large silver “raindrops” separating a side framing
border of elaborately-coiled hand-drawn silver wire. Two very fine twist wires
run from side to side center of the bracelet down to the terminal ends. Elaborate
and very precise stamp work graces both the inside and outside of the hand
drawn shanks. The quality of the craftsmanship along with the use of top
materials and a number of recognizable details lends itself to be the work of master
Navajo silversmith and lapidarian, Fred Peshlakai (1896-1972).
The bracelet has an
inner circumference of 5 5/8” end-to-end with a 1 1/4” gap between terminals
for a total interior circumference of 6 7/8”. It weighs a nice, comfortable 102
grams. It is in excellent original condition, with a small aged fracture on one
stone which is perfectly secure and tight in its bezel. The bracelet is not hallmarked
which was common during this time period, but we are confident this is the work
of Fred Peshlakai.