Vintage Sterling Silver Overlay Storyteller Brooch Pin w/ Gemstone Dangles, Southwestern Jewelry

$287.20 $359.00

This vintage brooch pin is absolutely charming! It features a rectangular sterling silver scene of a Native American village, done in overlay. That's the method whereby an image is cut out from one layer of sterling silver and laid atop a silver backplate. In this case, the scene is quintessentially Southwestern, with adobe homes attached to one another and a ladder, vigas, and hogan or outdoor stove. What a great memento for anyone who's visited the pueblos of Taos, Acoma, or Zuni! Dangling from the rectangular main section are five gemstones, none large. The largest bezel is in the center, and it contains denim lapis, which gets its name from the fact that the color resembles denim jeans. There is a freshwater pearl, purple amethyst, a cranberry colored gemstone that may be garnet or tourmaline, and the smallest one possibly carnelian. If you wear this on a jean jacket, the color palette is so complementary! The brooch was made by Albuquerque-based trading post Nakai, now permanently closed, but owned by Gilo and Grace Lopez. Grace is deceased but she was the creative spirit behind Nakai, know for gorgeous designs and mixing and matching nontraditional gemstones in Native American jewelry. I had the pleasure of getting to know Mr. Lopez, then in his mid 90s, in the years before the trading post closed its doors for good. He lived through the boomtimes of selling Native American jewelry, and in fact, in its heyday of the 1970s and 1980s, Nakai employed up to 100 silversmiths, most Navajo and some Zuni. Ronald Tom was a bench smith at Nakai, as were many smiths recognized today as master artists. This piece only carries the hallmark of the trading post, and although it most surely was Native made, we call it Southwestern.

The brooch measure about 2-1/4" wide by about 5/8" tall just accounting for the sterling silver foundation, but closer to 1-1/4" tall measuring to the bottom of the gemstones. Weighs 15g. Clasp in working condition, and the brooch overall is in excellent condition.

One-of-a-kind vintage treasure.

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Please convo with questions, or call (505) 369-6865. Will return your call as soon as possible.

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