Silver Bolo Tie With Large Smoky Bisbee Turquoise Gemstone

JEWELER UNKNOWN

Publication: Purchased from Adobe Gallery, 12/2021, Santa Fe

This Diné of the Navajo Nation silver bolo tie is unlike any other we at Adobe Gallery have seen. A large water drop shaped piece was first fashioned out of silver. This piece was curved at the edges, making it more substantial but without the added weight. Serrated half-moons were stamped into the metal as a border and linked together around the entirety of the bolo framing it with texture. A silver appliqué berry and leaves were added to the base of the front, ornamenting the piece like winter holly. The principal element of this bolo tie is a large and glorious piece of Smoky Bisbee turquoise. Smoky Bisbee is one of the formations Bisbee turquoise can display, and all are mined in Bisbee, Arizona. Bright blue is folded in with warm, coppery brown matrix elements that resemble sea foam across the mid-day ocean. With this stone in particular, the smokiest element is on the top. Festive and earthy, this bolo is strung from a braided leather tie capped with conical silver cones with spheres on each of the tips. Wearing this piece gives one the fortune of possessing a rare and special gemstone—striking from any angle. Size of the Bolo is 4 1/8" tall x 2 7/8" wide. What is a Bolo Tie? The Bola or Bolo tie is a Western fashion staple, hailed for its comfort and versatility. Employing several types of clasps, the bolo tie can be worn with a closed or loosened collar. In the 1930's, Navajo men would fasten a silver concha to their necks with a string. The bolo tie is also traced to the neckerchiefs worn by Boy Scouts and Argentine cowboys. In the United States bolo ties are widely associated with Western wear, and are common in the western areas of the country. New Mexico passed a non-binding measure to designate the bolo as the state's official neckwear in 1987. The State Legislature adopted the bolo tie as the official State Tie on March 13, 2007. Source: Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico Secretary of State. Condition: This silver and turquoise bolo tie is in very good condition. Provenance: This Silver Bolo Tie with Large Smoky Bisbee Turquoise Gemstone is from an estate in eastern Washington.

Inventory Number: 48840