Product Description
This vintage Indigenous turquoise charm bracelet is a bit of a mystery. The charms tell the story of the First People of the Pacific Northwest, including the Thunderbird, the salmon, the tribal elders and the crossed arrows of friendship. The style, though, is a mix of regions and influences.
The stamped designs are the hallmark of the Haida tribes (along the Canadian coast), but the matte finish on the sterling silver is associated with the Hopi silversmiths in the Southwest. The sweet, pale turquoise in each sawtooth setting was never really part of the language of the Northwestern silversmiths.
Still, all of these styles and influences are generalities. There is nothing to prevent an artisan of the Southwest from telling stories of the Northwest tribes in their craft. There is nothing to prevent an artisan in the North from experimenting with the finishes and stones favored in the Southwest as they tell the stories of their own heritage. I love pieces that are transitional or experimental like this one, but it does make it much more difficult to identify the origin. In this case, I have no idea.
The charms on this Indigenous turquoise bracelet range from 20 to 30 mm long. The chain measures approximately 7 inches around the wrist. The chain and charms were tested to confirm .925 sterling silver purity, and the bracelet weighs 14 grams overall. Our jewelry is polished by hand; No corrosive solvents or dips are used.
**Our fine jewelry is always boxed for shipping.**
Our jewelry is polished by hand; No corrosive solvents or dips are used. Please take your time with the photos and consider them part of the description. Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to check out the many treasured Indigenous motifs available in my shop! Sales from the WhyteWing website benefit The Trevor Project, but if you are more comfortable making your purchase on a platform like Etsy, this First People bracelet is listed in my shop there as well.
Measurements
7 inches
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