Sterling Silver Hand Hammered Bracelet by Jan Loco [SOLD]

Jan Loco's Sterling Silver Cuff: A Tribute to Apache Heritage

This one-inch wide sterling silver cuff, crafted by Apache artist Jan Loco, showcases elegance in its simplicity. The cuff, a broad strip of silver, boasts a textured surface that beautifully reflects light when in motion. The inner surface of the cuff is inscribed with "Spirit of the Rock" and features a stamped impression of the four-point morning star symbol, a motif frequently used by Loco.

Born in 1949, Jan Loco embarked on her jewelry-making journey in 1988. She devised a unique method of crafting jewelry without the use of any power tools. Utilizing only heavy-duty shears, she meticulously cut and shaped her piece to the desired form. She then hammered it with a specially chosen rock until she achieved the desired texture. This labor-intensive process was not only a testament to her skill but also a homage to her ancestry, as she preferred to use natural elements over power tools.

Loco's interest in Apache symbolism and legend was piqued when she discovered her Apache lineage as a young adult. Her creations are inspired by the narratives of her ancestors, 

incorporating designs that reflect the heavens, Apache legends, and the flora and fauna of the Apache homeland. Unaware of her Warm Springs Apache heritage until adulthood, she learned from her adoptive parents that she was the great-granddaughter of Chief Loco, one of the last Apache chiefs. Chief Loco was imprisoned in Florida in 1886 by the United States government, a historical fact that further deepens the cultural significance of Loco's work.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Sterling Silver Hand Hammered Bracelet by Jan Loco is from the collection of a resident of Washington

Recommended Reading: American Indian Jewelry II: A-L, 1,800 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: Southwest Indian Jewelry, Apache, Jan Loco