Celebrating Our 26th Year
Ingot Silver Squash Blossom Necklace with Lone Mountain Turquoise
Mark Chee
- About The Ingot Silver Squash Blossom Necklace with Lone Mountain Turquoise
Ingot sterling silver-mill rolled into sheet, tufa cast for applied embellishments and smelted for raindrops, was used througout design and fabrication of the entire necklace, including the 134 7 mm round beads.
There are 88 perfectly matched highest grade natural Lone Mountain turquoise stones. Each is an intense dusk blue with lamp black to rust brown matrix. These cabochons are left in their nugget form. The balance of shapes and sizes in graduation is a mosaic of exquisite detail working with nature's own forms.
Each bezel has been meticulously configured to hold and compliment its own rare treasure. The soldering is immaculate. Joinings seem effortless. Two millimeter raindrops nest comforably between and within the bezel spaces like so many chicks among their mother hens.
Attributions was made by comparison with a watch cuff matching the necklace on all points of design, workmanship, materials and even period of creation. This cuff was marked with the Chee thunderbird stamp and has been included in some photographs of the necklace for you to see.
Savvy Price $14,000.00
Gallery Price $18,000.00
| Shipped To You | |
| Pick It Up | FREE! |
|
|
| Description | Ingot sterling silver-mill rolled into sheet, tufa cast for applied embellishments and smelted for raindrops, was used througout design and fabrication of the entire necklace, including the 134 7 mm round beads. There are 88 perfectly matched highest grade natural Lone Mountain turquoise stones. Each is an intense dusk blue with lamp black to rust brown matrix. These cabochons are left in their nugget form. The balance of shapes and sizes in graduation is a mosaic of exquisite detail working with nature's own forms. Each bezel has been meticulously configured to hold and compliment its own rare treasure. The soldering is immaculate. Joinings seem effortless. Two millimeter raindrops nest comforably between and within the bezel spaces like so many chicks among their mother hens. Attributions was made by comparison with a watch cuff matching the necklace on all points of design, workmanship, materials and even period of creation. This cuff was marked with the Chee thunderbird stamp and has been included in some photographs of the necklace for you to see. |
|---|---|
| About the Artist | Mark Chee (1914-1981) Navajo (Dineh) was among the earliest known silversmiths. Born in Lukachukai, Arizona, he was educated from age ten to the equivalent of the 11th grade in the government Indian School system at Fort Defiance. Following graduation, Mark Chee first worked as a finisher for Julius Gans' Southwest Art and Crafts shop in Santa Fe. There he managed to save enough from his $5 weekly earnings to buy the few simple tools he would use all his life. He learned quickly and became an accomplished smith and jeweler. From Gans' shop, he did bench work for Frank Patania's Thunderbird Shop, then moved to Al Packard's on the Plaza in Santa Fe. For a while he also did work for the Wooden Indian in Embudo, Colorado. In 1946 Mark Chee won 1st Prize for his jewelry at the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup, New Mexico. Known for beautiful, substantial work with ingot silver, stamp decorated and set with only the very best turquoise, Mr. Chee was active from the 1930's through the 1960's. His traditional designs reflected his culture and the beauty he saw all around him. In 2002 Chee's work was shown in Jewels of the Southwest, an exhibition of the very best artists in their fields. This was proof that Mark Chee and his art will live on through time, bringing his culture into each new decade, with a consistent and persistent relevance. |
| Culture | American Indian, Navajo |
| Medium | Ingot sterling silver with high grade natural Lone Mountain turquoise |
| Size | Necklace length is 25" with the 2 1/2" height X 2 1/4" width naja dropping down another 2" below the beads. Blossoms graduate from 1 3/8" X 3/4" down to 1 1/8" X 5/8" |
| Date of creation | 1940's |
| Condition | Excellent |
| Turquoise | Natural high grade Lone Mountain turquoise |
| Description | Certificate of authenticity with attribution photographs will be provided with purchase |
| Provenance | Br Sch |
@savvycollector_usa
Collecting tips, market insights & more!
Highly Recommended
Just received the painting today - WOW! Really outstanding, and the finest packaging for the price I've yet unwrapped!
Don & Brenda P. in California