Important Vintage Santo Domingo Tony Aguilar Sterling Silver Inlay Bracelet

This is an astonishing vintage Kewa inlaid silver cuff bracelet. This outstanding bracelet contains an inlaid center red spiny oyster shell section. The inlaid red spiny oyster shells are beautiful rectangular shapes. The inlay wraps nearly around the entire cuff. Bordering the cuff are stunning thick silver ropes. This is a wide and thick silver cuff bracelet. Spiny oyster shell, particularly in its red variety, is highly valued and sought after for its vibrant color and unique patterns. It is often used as an inlay material in Navajo jewelry, where small pieces of the shell are carefully cut and shaped to fit into channels or recessed areas in silver or other metals. The shell pieces are then secured in place using epoxy or other adhesives, creating beautiful and intricate designs. The red spiny oyster shell used in Navajo jewelry is typically sourced from the Sea of Cortez, which is located between Baja California and mainland Mexico. The shell is harvested, cleaned, and processed to create the vibrant red pieces that are later incorporated into jewelry. In Navajo culture, the use of shell in jewelry holds symbolic significance. It is believed to provide protection, spiritual power, and a connection to the ocean, which holds great importance to the Navajo people despite their landlocked location. Overall, the use of inlaid red spiny oyster shell in Navajo jewelry is a testament to the skill and creativity of the Navajo artisans and contributes to the distinctive beauty of their traditional jewelry designs. The width of the bracelet measures around 7/8". Signed by Kewa artist, Tony Aguilar Sr. Sterling silver, marked. Cir. 1970's+. The inside end to end measures around 5-1/4" with an additional 1-1/4" gap. Sturdy 57 grams.

Make Us an Offer- Due to the high demand of our items, many pieces sell quite fast. The most frequent email we receive are from buyers who waited too long to make us an offer and suddenly lost out because another buyer came in and purchased. Send us your reasonable offer today, we are flexible and you have nothing to lose! Ahéhee' (Thank you)

Financial assistance available! We are very flexible and will be happy to work with you, send us an email for more information!