Very fine Navajo sterling and turquoise bracelet. Unmarked but attributed to Fred Peshlakai (1896-1974).

Decorated with a square, bezel-set, slightly domed, Bisbee turquoise stone with a beautiful matrix. The silver with finely stamped and chiseled designs, highlighted with silver beads and twisted wire. A nice early piece by a well known Native American silversmith.

Wrist Size (including opening): 6 1/4"

Stone Size: 9/16" square (16 mm)

Bracelet Width (top): 3/4"

Weight: 26.5 grams

PROVENANCE: San Francisco estate collection.

CONDITION: Tarnished. Missing one decorative silver bead.

NOTES / REFERENCES: Fred Peshlakai (1896-1974). Fred Peshlakai is the bridge between the early Navajo silversmiths of the 19th century and the Native modernists of the mid 20th century. He was born at Crystal, New Mexico, the son of Slender Maker of Silver who had learned silver work from Atsidi Chon, one of the first Navajo silversmiths. He apprenticed with his father until the elder’s failing eyesight forced him to stop working. Fred Peshlakai worked briefly at Maisels Indian Trading Post in Albuquerque before moving on to temporary jobs such as cowboying and acting. Returning to silversmithing, he opened a shop on Olveira Street in Los Angeles where he worked for nearly 20 years. His brother Frank worked for him there for several years. In 1950 Peshlakai had a shop at Hotel Escalante in Cedar City, Utah. After that time his jewelry production decreased. Peshalakai’s work is widely collected. His innovative, ground breaking designs enhanced by the use of gem quality turquoise earned him a permanent display of his masterwork in the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian.

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