Navajo Domed Silver Bracelet with Stamped Armadillo Design by Orville Tsinnie

Diné of the Navajo Nation silversmith Orville Tsinnie used a single stamp and precision file work to design this gorgeous modern sterling silver cuff. Using a single circular stamp executed more than 100 times, Tsinnie created what is referred to as the Armadillo Design.  Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning "little armored one" and refers to the bony plates that cover the back, head, legs, and tail of most of these odd-looking creatures.  The textured pattern on this silver bracelet resembles the bumpy skin of the exotic desert dwelling animal and runs down the center of the wide cuff. Interrupting the continuity of the spots is a pair of polished silver bars. All of this was set on a hollow, rounded base. The hollow form allows for a more comfortable fit, while still giving the impression of substantial weight.

In the early 1970s Orville Tsinnie (1943-2017) learned to make jewelry from his Hopi brother-in-law. During his career he won numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Indian Arts and Crafts Association, an honor award that is only given to the finest American Indian artists. Tsinnie's work was characterized by superior craftsmanship. He made traditional jewelry but excelled with new designs. All his work was marked by precision and attention to detail, which resulted in work that was uniquely his own.  He worked out of his studio in Shiprock, New Mexico, and was a yearly participant in the Santa Fe New Mexico annual Indian Market.

This bracelet illustrates his talent, both in creative innovation and skill as a silversmith. The bracelet is signed Orville Tsinnie, Shiprock New Mexico, Sterling, the letter W, along with an impression of the Monadnock formation known as Shiprock.  The Diné of the Navajo Nation call it Tsé Bitʼaʼí, meaning "rock with wings" or "winged rock."

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Navajo Domed Silver Bracelet with Stamped Armadillo Design by Orville Tsinnie is from the collection of a client of Adobe Gallery

Recommended Reading: Contemporary Southwestern Jewelry by Diana Pardue

TAGS: Diné of the Navajo Nation, Southwest Indian Jewelry, Orville Tsinnie, Diné of the Navajo Nation Silversmith