Navajo Gold Deep Blue Paiute Turquoise Earrings - Toby Henderson (#064)
Navajo Gold Jewelry
14K Gold Post Earrings Set
with Natural Paiute Turquoise
1" tall x 5/8" wide
Stone - 3/4" tall x 3/8" wide
$1,250.00
The Paiute turquoise mine consists of a series of nine full claims that
run along the southern and western portion of a rock-strewn and sage
brush encrusted central Nevada hillside. Down the southern slope and
to the southwest about a half mile, nestled in a small valley dotted
with juniper trees, is the Damele mine.
Paiute
turquoise forms in veins and occasionally as nuggets in carbonaceous
chert and diatomaceous earth. Since it is relatively new to the market,
Paiute is a less well known stone. Because of the high quality
turquoise the mine produces, however, it will certainly become a strong
contender in the contemporary market. Paiute turquoise ranges in color
from powder blue with yellow matrix to an intense, electric blue with
fine black spider-web matrix. Unique pastel blue turquoise with white
polka dots and blue-greens with dark matrix patterns are also found.
Paiute turquoise is rare and strikingly beautiful; it has one of the
most wide ranging color palates and matrix variables of any known
turquoise.
A small, tightly run operation, the Paiute mine is
located near Austin, Nevada. Clyde Wright initially staked the Paiute
claim in 1975. Wright lightly worked the mine for a few years, but had
turquoise claims all over the Nevada countryside and seems to have been
spread very thin. Tony Cotner, an excellent miner, merchandiser and
truly colorful character has owned the claims since 1992, when he
bought them from Clyde's estate. Mr. Cotner, is also known as"Mean
Green".
Toby Henderson
Toby Henderson's grandmother developed the style of kachina jewelry. She made bracelets, bolas, earrings and silver belt buckles out of sterling silver. She taught Toby how to make this style and by allowing him to use it, created a family tradition. He went on to perfect the standing kachina design as well as other jewelry. Each piece is made by hand and then soldered together. Creating these three dimensional figures in such a small scale requires time and patience. Toby takes great pride in his special creations.
