Post by fernwood on Mar 23, 2018 10:39:55 GMT -5
Jugglerguy and anyone else interested.
Most are vintage, 1980’s. A couple of the Turquoise bears at the bottom of one necklace are more modern and probably not hand made. I purchased the vintage ones in AZ and NM. Some from people I knew who showed me the process they used. Prices then were .25 to .50 each. The birds are from this era and carved shell.
I can only imagine turtles made from Petoskey and Greenstone. These would bring a premium price. From what I have seen, most of the turtles are offered for sale at $7.00 to $20.00 each, if not Native made. Add 20 to 50% for Native Made. Frogs are impossible to find any more, as are traditional style fish. Most of what is available is made from more common stones.
Seems like traditional style beads are scarce. Plenty of composite/stamped junk out there. Natural stone ones of high quality are becoming expensive and scarce.
There are many Clans in Native American Culture. Turtle, Frog, Raven, Owl, Fish, Bear, Wolf, Eagle, etc. This is why animal fetish beads are so popular. Carvings of a person’s clan are also used around the house for protection and strength.
FYI. In the upper necklace the natural, vintage stones are AZ Red and Yellow/Gray Jasper. The Turquoise tube beads are vintage 1950’s Sleeping Beauty. Special gift I received.
Lower necklace has Labradorite and Rose Quartz Turtles, Shell Birds, Unakite Frogs and Turquoise Bears. I used two different styles of frogs in this necklace. The Labradorite Turtles really have some flash in them. Just beautiful and powerful. Oh, the front side of pendant is not pictured. A vintage Sterling and Turquoise Eagle I was gifted on the Navajo Nation.
Just sharing to show that color of the creature does not always need to be natural to have appeal. All depends on how the finished product is marketed.
1 
3 
2 
4 
5 
