Is this a Tommy Singer Chip Inlay Bracelet?

Hi Paula,
I currently have a chip inlay bracelet I bought that was very strongly claimed to be a
Tommy Singer chip inlay bracelet (pictures are attached). I am trying to get some verification on if Tommy made it or not. Unfortunately, the bracelet appears to be worn (on the inside) and there are no makers mark on it (I have also been told that Tommy did not mark some of his items). It also appears to be quite thin. Every Tommy Singer
bracelet that I have seen that was verified to be made by Tommy has been very thick.

I understand that this is a bit of a shot in the dark, but I just thought I would ask if you knew of any way to verify the bracelet. I realize that the bracelet I have may very well not have been made by Tommy. That’s OK. I just want to verify “yes/no”. Any other
recommendations that you may have to verify the authenticity of the this bracelet would be most appreciated. I am also trying to see if I can get a chip inlay bracelet made by Tommy for my wife.

The reason for my quest is that my wife’s mother had a Tommy Singer bracelet for many years and when her mother died, my wife took possession of her mother’s bracelet. She unfortunately lost it and we have been attempting to replace it for the last couple of years.

Thank You,
Gordon

Hi Gordon,

To give other readers some background.

What is Chip Inlay?

Chip inlay is a method where cavities in jewelry are filled with a mixture of crushed stone, typically turquoise and coral, and epoxy resin. The piece is then polished smooth after the resin has hardened. Navajo Tommy Singer is often credited for first using chip inlay in Native American jewelry.

Who is Tommy Singer?

Known world wide for his silver work, chip inlay and necklaces, Tommy (Thomas) Singer pieces are highly collectible and sought after. The Singer family has been involved in silversmithing, stone and beadwork for a very long time, handing the art down from one generation to another. Tommy Singer grew up on in the community of Dilcon on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.

The hallmark stamp shown above on your bracelet is the last half of STERLING………a partial R and LING.

As far as whether or not this is a Tommy Singer piece, I could not say.

We have had similar chip inlay pieces, both vintage and contemporary, in our store that were made by a variety of other Navajo artists.

Here is a vintage Tommy Singer ladies watch

Best of luck with your search, Paula

Paula, Can you help identify this brass bracelet?

Hello Paula,
We have recently come across a Native American cuff bracelet that we
would like to see if you or any of your blog followers could help with
identifying it.It is brass inlayed with turquoise and red coral. The
inside is marked with HB and with the second leg of the H and the
upright of the B being shared. Also above the HB are two symbols that
look very much like a pair of human eyelashes. 🙂 The design of the
inlay looks like water or waves. We do have pics available if you
would like to see them. Thanks so much.
Kim and Joe

Hi Kim and Joe,

This copper cuff bracelet is decorated with chip inlay.

Copper is a pure elemental metal that has been and is being used by Native American artists. Read all about copper here. 

Brass is an alloy made of copper and zinc. I have never seen Native American Jewelry made from Brass.

What is Chip Inlay?

Chip inlay is a method where cavities in jewelry are filled with a mixture of crushed stone, typically turquoise and coral, and epoxy resin. The piece is then polished smooth after the resin has hardened.

The cojoined initials HB have been used by several artists, Hispanic and Navajo. One celebrated (deceased) Navajo artist used a cojoined HB but verified versions of his hallmark look different than the hallmark on your bracelet so I hesitate to suggest his name lest it be associated wrongly. I do see many items on eBay with all variations of HB and other hallmarks being attributed to this noted artists yet none of the hallmarks are the same !

As far as the eyelashes – they are made with a common stamping tool that is used to decorate metal pieces, perhaps to represent rays of the sun (or possibly rain) such as is on the front of your bracelet and on this barrette.

The rays could be a shop mark in addition to the artist’s mark.

Or they could be an intentional part of the artist’s personal hallmark. One artist put fringe-like-rays around his initials, but usually it was an entire box, not just a topper.

However, I don’t recognize these particular lashes/rays nor do they appear in any of my hallmark references.

Therefore at this point, all I can say is probably Navajo copper bracelet with chip inlay.

Paula

Chisel Cut FK or KF Hallmark on Vintage Chip Inlay Bracelet

Paula,

Found your blog and am so glad that I did.

I have a large silver, turquoise and coral cuff bracelet that I purchased in Santa Fe a little over 40 years ago.

The bracelet is 1 5/8 inches wide and has a rather unique double badger claw design on each side.

Inside is a hallmark that is a backward F joined to a K.

I have been unable to find any reference to this hallmark and am hopeful that you or one of your readers can help.

Many thanks,

Ron

HI Ron,

What a unique chip inlay design on your bracelet ! I’m not sure I would have seen badger paws.

I don’t recognize the hallmark so looked up chisel cut initials FK and KF and really came up empty.

So perhaps someone else might know.

I did find a Blackfoot jeweler who chisel cut his initials in a very similar fashion but I couldn’t make the combination of letters work.

But Santa Fe + chip inlay, we’d be looking for a Navajo artist anyway.

Does anyone have ideas?

Paula