Antique Vintage 925 Sterling Silver Native Hopi Overlay Salmon Coral Earrings

  

We have similar Native and Hopi items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Listing Description by: Angela A. Markings : "Sterling" on the backs of the earrings, tested, and guaranteed.

Country of Origin : United States - Hopi Nation. Gram Weight : 10.3 grams.

Color: opaque bright salmon-pink hue. Stone Treatment: The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.

Stone Cuts : Carved and polished cabochon. Earring Backing Style : Post with butterfly backings. Your jeweler can easily convert these to the preferred backing style you desire. For Pierced or Non-Pierced Ears : Pierced.

Handmade in the 1960s by a talented Hopi silversmith. The earrings feature beautiful salmon coral stones resting securely in bezel settings.

Also accenting the face of the earrings are punched geometric patterns in the Hopi inlay style. Posts with butterfly backings make these earrings suitable for pierced ears. Tarnish on the sterling silver gives this piece an antique quality which we believe is quite lovely. This listing is for the item only.

This beautiful piece was made by a very talented Native American silversmith. It features handcrafted silversmith work throughout.

Antique Native American jewelry is very rare to find. This is due to these pieces being made for reservation and personal use before the tourist trade became popular.

Very few pieces were made and even less survived to today. The concept of Pawn, Old Pawn, and Dead Pawn Native American Jewelry came to be in the 1800s. When a loan wasnt repaid, the item became known as either Old Pawn or Dead Pawn.

The members of the Hopi nation are the oldest continuous inhabitants of Arizona and are known for their beautiful jewelry made of sterling silver. Prior to first contact with Spanish colonialists and explorers, Hopi jewelry was made from carved stones, shell, bone, and wood which not only served as decoration or ornamentation but as religious and spiritual objects as well. Historians believe that Sikyatala of Walpi was the first member of the Hopi nation to learn the art of silversmithing, which he in turn introduced to the early Hopi silversmiths. Initially, Hopi jewelry was similar in design to pieces being created by the Navajo and Zuni and was commonly made out of recycled shell casings and copper wire. It wasnt until after World War II that Hopi silversmiths developed their own distinct style utilizing a technique known as overlay. This technique was combined with ancient cultural symbolism and beliefs to create beautiful and unique pieces of jewelry that are highly sought after. Hopi overlay jewelry was first developed following the Second World War by Hopi silversmiths and jewelers as they created their own distinct style of jewelry, setting themselves apart from Zuni and Navajo silversmiths.

This silversmithing technique involves punching designs out of a sheet of sterling silver which is then overlaid over another sheet of silver. The two sheets are soldered together, resulting in a raised design. To create contrast in the piece, parts of the lower sheet of silver are darkened using various patina agents. The designs used in these pieces of jewelry vary amongst artisans, but Hopi katsinam appear most commonly.

What katsinam mean to the Hopi varies and cannot be easily defined in English. Katsinam are often likened to spirits of deceased ancestors or gods, natural elements, or animals, which bring rain and gifts to children. These motifs, combined with the Hopi overlay technique, have resulted in truly unique and beautiful pieces of jewelry.

Salmon coral is harvested almost exclusively in the Mediterranean off the coasts of Italy, France, Spain, Algeria, and Tunisia. Salmon coral has widely been valued as the rarest and most beautiful of all coral types. During the Victorian era only the richest of the rich could afford to have this form of coral harvested and imported into Europe and North America. The item "Antique Vintage 925 Sterling Silver Native Hopi Overlay Salmon Coral Earrings" is in sale since Saturday, September 5, 2020. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Earrings".

The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Country of Origin: United States - Hopi Nation
• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Ethnic Origin: Hopi
• Metal Purity: .925
• Main Stone: Salmon Coral
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• Jewelry Type: Earrings
• Tribal Affiliation: Hopi