Navajo silversmith Albert Jake was born in 1959 at Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico. He has been smithing silver for over fifteen years. Albert is renowned for the precise detail and execution of his work and for the fine natural stones and coral which he always employs in his pieces. Some years ago before Navajo smith Harry Morgan died, we bought a few necklaces from him that were made somewhat in this style. Those necklaces did not have all the fine stampwork this one does, nor were the stones so nice and they had no matching earrings. We guarded that memory of the style, however, and eventually commissioned Albert Jake to make some necklaces with earrings for us. Conrad Armijo cut this natural, untreated Kingman turquoise for us. We gave Albert a rough idea of what we wanted and then let him go to work. This is a short necklace; around 18" in length. The earrings have free-swinging drops and this is the perfect necklace and earring set; rich with matching stones and done in a very traditional style.
Hallmarked "A JAKE" and stamped "Sterling" on back of the necklace and the back of the drops of the earrings. Stones on necklace: center oval 11/16" x 9/16"; (2) 3/8" x 5/16"; (2) 11/16" x 3/16"; (2) 1/4" x 3/16"; (2) 7/16" x 1/4" Weight of stones on necklace: 35 carats Plate with set stones: 3 3/4" x 1 1/8" Length of necklace: 18" Stones on earrings: on posts 7/16" x 3/16"; on drops 7/16" x 5/16" Weight of stones in earrings: 10 carats Total hang of earrings: 1 3/4" |