Featured Bell Trading Post?, Taxco and Possible Southwestern Ring

The Discovery Shop I go to, had a disappointing jewelry sale for a variety of reasons. I did get a few pieces, but I have questions as always, so I thought I would put the items I bought into two posts based on source in this one, and a general group in the other. The first group has the one exciting piece that I got, a simple Taxco bracelet with a very interesting look that is slightly damaged. These three pieces, I think come from the same general locale, so I thought they may of interest to Southwestern jewelry collectors.

I appreciate any comments on anything.

1. Taxco Coral Bracelet.



2. I bought this pendant because I found interesting. My question is does this look a Bell Trading Post Mark? That would give a time. (The chain is unrelated.)



3. This ring seems to have a Southwestern feel but is only marked sterling. It fits great! Any ideas?

 

#2 is a Bell Trading post mark.... https://www.silvercollection.it/AMERICANSILVERMARKSB.html

 

Seconded. The ring wants to be NA, but could just as easily be Deadhead silversmith work. The bracelet is post-1978. The stone doesn't look like coral to me.

 

Yipee! Thanks very much.

 

Not coral? I have to look harder then. I hadn't heard about deadhead silversmiths. I'll have to look those up! Thank you very much!

 

There has been thousands of hobbyist silversmiths using Lapidary Journal,Gems and Mineral and other publications for information.

 

Your ring I would have called Zuni in style. I had three rings my mother had picked up in Arizona with turquoise colored stones all identical except for the color of the stone. All marked sterling and had a ( if memory serves me) marked with letter TM . I became suspicious because there were three settings exactly alike and all three untarnished. They had the three balls like yours only the stones were oval. When i did a lens search many of them came up so I concluded not native American.

 

Ditto. Maybe jasper?

Zuni rings typically have a single shank, and often use a type of inlay.
Split shanks are used by the Navajo, as are single stones, but both are used by many others as well.
The ring is my favourite of the lot. The style is like Navajo Modernist Jewellery, but it looks later.

 

Very pretty.

 

Semi-pro silver workers. It's a term used for people who traveled around with the Grateful Dead and supported themselves by making and selling jewelery. The ring cold have been made by someone else most likely not Native American. The red stone could be out to fool me, but it just doesn't look like coral.

 

I realize the design isn't anything special. I did think the stone was nice. I appreciate your thoughts.

 

I'm going to wear it with a turquoise necklace and unrelated turquoise bracelet I have. None of which are Native American, until I find something that is a better look. I did a search but nothing came up like this one. I did find one marked Bisbee with the same surround but I've seen it before. Thank you.

 

Okay. I'll look up red jasper and see if I can figure out the stone.

Good to know about the shanks of the rings. It will help me with mystery stamp identifications.

 

Thanks Pearls.

 

I thought that was what you meant by Deadheads, but I wasn't sure. I didn't realize that there were itinerant jewelry makers who travelled with them. Thank you.

 

Looks like Mexican red jasper.... https://www.google.com/search?q=mex...udBfwQ_AUoAXoECAIQAw&biw=1195&bih=621&dpr=1.3

 

Perfect!!!!!!!! Thanks so much. Thanks very much for the link too.

 

All three are beautiful, and I especially like the ring. Congratulations on the finds!

 

Thank you. It was their jewelry sale. They overlook NA and southwest stuff.

 

Agree. Great finds. You must have had fun at the sale.

Debora