Mole Tracks Under the Snow

I hiked across the pastures yesterday taking advantage of the warm weather.

The snow has melted and revealed mole tracks on the top of the ground where the moles were busy tunneling under the snow.

Mole Tracks Revealed After the Snow Melts

Jet Mole Fetish Carving by David Yazzie, Navajo

The mole is one of the guardians of the six directions.  The mole guards the lower regions of the earth.

Mole – The Protector of the Underworld and Crops, Awareness, Introspection

The Snake Symbol in Native American Culture

The snake in some Native American cultures represents speed and swiftness, the same properties as lightning or the lightning arrow and they often have a similar visual form. The snake does not symbolize anything negative or treacherous. Rather, the snake represents abundant rainfall, fertility and healing. Snake symbols are rarely seen in Navajo jewelry and art but are often used by Zuni.

We here in northern Colorado live with snakes on a seasonal basis – they are part of the landscape and ecosystem. Since our climate is semi-arid, we welcome the abundant rainfall the snake might bring.

What is the difference between cobblestone and cornrow inlay?

These techniques of setting stone against stone in a thick mosaic are related yet different. They are most often seen in Navajo stone work. Both methods require that each stone be rounded or beveled along its edges before being placed in the desired pattern.

Here is where the differences appear. Corn row refers to similar size pieces of stone set parallel, side by side in a neat row – the edges of each stone are usually rounded. Cobblestone refers to pieces that are fitted perpendicular or angled to each other like you’d see in a stone courtyard. Often cobblestone pieces vary in size and have beveled rather than rounded edges.

You can easily see why cobblestone inlay is called that if you’ve ever seen a cobblestone street in an old historic section of a US city or abroad. Besides cutting the stones so that they fit into an intricate pattern, the artist must also bevel each stone on every edge. This requires great skill and time and investment in materials.

A similar inlay pattern called cornrow has the stone pieces all laid parallel, like corn kernels on a cob.

The Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing – Smudging

The “Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing” is a powerful Native American cleansing technique. It is a ritual to remove negativity. Smoke attaches itself to the negative energy and removes it to another space.

Cleansing is the word traditionally used, but you can think of it as a shift in energy from any bits of negativity to a more positive, peaceful state.

Smudging can be used to cleanse an object, a place, or your spirit, mind or body. Native Americans often use smudging in association with other ceremonies.

Contemporary uses includes purifying a new vehicle, your work area or a room or dwelling before moving in; purifying a sacred object such as stone, book or fetish; or for self-cleansing before meditation, prayer or sleep.

Certain plants are used for smudging. Smudging is done in a particular way. The herbs are burned in a small bowl or a shell, such as an abalone shell. The shell represents Water, a gift from the ocean. The smoke is distributed with a feather, a gift from our winged friends.

Catlinite Smudge Burner by Lakota artist, Alan Monroe

Sterling Silver, Turquoise and Coral Navajo Made Slave Bracelet

Sterling Silver, Turquoise and Coral Navajo Made Slave Bracelet

Squash Blossom Necklace with T Hallmark

Hi Paula,

I purchased this necklace. It was represented as “Vintage Native American”. No tribal affiliation was given. It was represented as being “very old” (maybe 60′s?)

The hallmark is a capital “T”. It is not marked sterling silver but again it was represented as being sterling silver.

It has been cleaned somewhat but does have patina consistent with an older piece.

My questions are:

  1) Do you think it is Navajo? (or some other tribe)

  2) Any idea as to the maker?

        Thank you! Shauna L

Hi Shauna,

It looks like a Navajo Squash Blossom necklace to me.

Based on the photos, its overall look and style and the smooth bezels around the stones and the stones themselves, plus the patina, it has the look of a 1970s or earlier item.

Your hallmark photo shows a capital T in Gothic.

According to Hallmarks of the Southwest by Barton Wright, the T hallmark is attributed to Navajo silversmith Tommy Singer.

According to The Little Book of Marks on Southwestern Silver by Bille Hougart, the T hallmark has been used by

Navajo silversmith Tommy Singer

Navajo silversmith Rhonda Tahe

Navajo silversmith Richard T. Thomas

I hope this has been helpful. Paula

Chip Inlay Pin with TC S Hallmark

Hi Paula:

I have a piece that is SS with turquoise chip inlay. The hallmark is TC with a S over the C. I’ve been told it may be Tommy Singer’s work. I would like to track down the artist. Can you help?

Kirk

Hi Kirk,

In The Little Book of Marks on Southwestern Silver by Bille Hougart (2011) that hallmark is shown in a photo and is attributed to Tommy Singer.

Paula

Snipped or Cut tag in vintage Dooney & Bourke handbag – What Does it Mean?

Hi Paula,

 Is the value of a vintage Dooney & Bourke bag reduced if the label inside is cut?  I have a large navy kilty with tags still attached that has never been used, but the label inside has been cut.

Thanks!

Carmen

Authentic Vintage Dooney & Bourke Kilty Bag

Hi Carmen,

Tags removed or snipped? Often we will see tags that are snipped or partially or completely torn out of the bags. If a tag is snipped but is mostly still there, and you can see the registration number on the back, it probably indicates that the bag was sold at an outlet store – it is likely authentic but might have been an overstock or slightly imperfect bag.

outlet store = less value

overstock = less value

imperfect bag = less value

Yes, less value for the above than if it was a perfect bag with unsnipped tag.

If a tag has been completely cut out, then we get suspicious because we can no longer see the registration number. Counterfeit bag makers are crafty – they sew a similar label in and then rip it out so it looks like a real tag might have been in there. But there are usually many other details that will tell us that a bag is a fake.

Paula

Can Native Americans use Eagle and Hawk Feathers in their Art?

Hi Paula

I have a few questions about dream catchers. My sister brought a couple back recently and quarantine insisted on irradiating them. That was fine until they folded all the feathers to pack them in the post! So, am I correct in assuming that you can just replace the feathers with new ones? I dont recall ever reading about any ritual observances during a dream catchers making (its a navajo one and I dont even know if dream catchers are traditional in that culture)? I dont know what kind of feathers they are – am I right that they cannot be eagle or hawk due to your laws, or are indigenes allowed to use them in their art? Is the type of feather used significant? Thanks Paula and have a nice day

regards
Merideth from Australia

Apache Dreamcatcher with barred pea hen feathers

Hi Meredith,

Eagle, hawk and many other types of feathers are illegal to own. Some Native Americans are allowed to use them in religious ceremony but can’t sell them alone or as part of a piece of artwork because non-registered Native Americans can’t posses them.

Here is an article about a recent court ruling.

Only Indians Can Use Eagle Feathers for Religious Practices, Court Rules

To obtain eagle feathers for religious ceremonies, Native Americans can’t collect their own feathers. They must get them through a Federal Repository.  We have one here in Denver which you can read about. It is very interesting.

So most NA artists use pea hen, turkey etc. and either use them as is or paint them to be faux eagle, faux hawk, owl etc.

Lakota Imitation Red-Tailed Hawk Feather

Lakota Imitation Eagle Feather

So,  if feathers have been damaged they can be replaced with feathers that are significant to the person who owns the dreamcatcher – some use macaw, pheasant, goose……all sorts are used – it is what they are meant to represent that is important.

Dreamcatchers are usually associated with the Woodland and Plains tribes and some southwest, like Apache, but not usually Navajo, although Navajo make dreamcatcher jewelry.

I’ll be listing some amazing Apache dreamcatchers next week, resplendent with feathers, so watch the NEW page where all the new items appear first.

http://www.horsekeeping.com/new-items.htm

Paula

Can you Identify this Dooney & Bourke bag for me please?

Hi Paula

I was wondering if it was possible for you to identify the name of a vintage D&B AWL bag for me? I looked on your site with no match, and I was hoping as D&B enthusiasts you would be able to help me.
Many thanks,
Stephanie

Fake, Knock-Off, not a Dooney & Bourke Bag

Hi Stephanie,

That bag is a fake,- it is so bad that I can’t even call it a knock-off – there are so many signs just from the one photo that this is not a Dooney & Bourke bag.

First of all, Dooney & Bourke never made a style even remotely like this bag.

D&B never had a bag with braided trim like that.

The buckle affair on the front – another complete fabrication.

The way the shoulder strap is attached to the trigger snaps is not the way done by D&B.

Also the two tone thin shoulder strap is another dead giveaway that this is an imposter. The only D&B bag that had two tone straps was the Surrey line with a wide padded two tone strap.

The base of this bag looks like vinyl which makes me wonder if the entire bag is vinyl. Many of the fake D&B bags I’ve seen are made of vinyl, rather than All Weather Leather.

So it is the worst of the worst !

But thank you for checking before listing it on eBay as an authentic Dooney & Bourke bag. There are so many fakes like this and knock-offs that are being listed on eBay as authentic D&B bags, that unsuspecting buyers bid on them thinking they are getting a real Dooney.

Here is an authentic vintage Dooney & Bourke bag. You can read about characteristics of Dooney & Bourke handbags on our website.

Authentic Vintage Dooney & Bourke Carrier Handbag

Paula