Vintage 1950's Cluster bracelet-Pawn

Vintage 1950's Zuni petit point bracelet. This classic piece still has the torn pawn ticket attached. The natural Turquoise stones have a varied coloring that 70 years have given it. Measuring 2"1/4 at its widest point and tapers down to 1"1/4 on the sides, this is a large bracelet. Over 70 stones were cut for this bracelet. Natural oxidation covers all the silver and adds to its authentic look. If you are looking for a true collectors piece, this is it. A Certificate of Authenticity is offered.

Style: Zuni Jewelry: Combining many stones into one piece makes some of the most beautiful and exciting Native American jewelry. Depending on how the stones are cut, this style of combining stones can be called Cluster-Work, Needle Point, Petit Point and Snake Eyes. These four styles emerged in the early 1920’s-1940’s and are primarily made by the Zuni Tribe, although some Navajos will make similar designs. These styles have a feminine quality to them, as the stones are set in small and elegant settings. These designs are very tedious as each bezel (the silver holding the stone) is individually shaped and solder. Then the stones are cut, glued to matchsticks, then shaped and polished with a series of grinding wheel.

PAWN HISTORY: By the 1890’s, traders took advantage of a new market with silversmiths and began selling them tools. Silver jewelry was used as barter on the Reservation where money was practically non-existent. Traders took silver and turquoise jewelry as collateral without giving a specific value to the piece. Any pawn unclaimed after an agreed period of time was considered "dead" and the trader could sell it.