Diné Silver Bracelet with Turquoise Gemstones by Fred Peshlakai (R)

This silver bracelet with seven turquoise gemstones was made by Fred Peshlakai, Diné jeweler of the Navajo Nation.  The turquoise cabs are oval and domed and graduated in size from the largest in the center to the smallest at the ends.  Each turquoise cab is secured in a silver bezel.  The seven bezels are intertwined in a continuous twisted silver rope.  The bracelet is stamped with his name, in all caps, F.PESHLAKAI.

The foundation of the bracelet is two silver bars melding into solid silver near the ends of the bracelet.  The solid sections are filled with traditional stamped designs.  The row of turquoise cabs is secured to the silver foundations by a silver platform that has a silver rivet as the anchor, however, it appears that the twisted silver wire is what is anchored to the foundation.

All seven turquoise cabs are of the same lustrous color and obviously from the same turquoise mine.  It is a beautiful high-quality turquoise but I do not know the mine source.  Two of the turquoise cabs have a crack across the middle, but each is securely anchored in the bezel.   

Fred Peshlaki (1896-1974) was the nephew of Peshlakai Atsidi (Slender Maker of Silver).  As a young man, he left the reservation to pursue different jobs, from cowboy to movie actor and into wax works, finally returning to silversmithing.  He had apprenticed under his silversmith father before leaving the reservation.

“For 35 years, Fred owned an Indian jewelry shop on Olivera Street in Los Angeles.  He worked as a motion  picture actor in several films.  In September 1974, he moved back to the Navajo Reservation in poor health, and lived with his daughter, Dorothy Rose, at Many Farms, Arizona.  In November, he was hospitalized and passed away shortly before Christmas.  He was buried in the Chinle Cemetery.” [Schaaf, 2013:131]

Condition: very good condition with two turquoise cabs with cracks across their middle, as described above

Provenance:  this Diné Silver Bracelet with Turquoise Gemstones by Fred Peshlakai is from the collection of a Santa Fe gentleman

Reference: American Indian Jewelry III: M-Z, 2,100 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

Relative Links: Diné - Navajo, Southwest Indian Jewelry, Fred Peshlakai, Frank Peshlakai

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