Navajo turquoise and sterling silver Fred Harvey bracelet. This lovely bracelet has three snake-eye turquoise cabochons, surrounded by dainty cutouts, silver thunderbird applique, twisted wire, and hand stamping on the cuff, a classic for any collection. Flexible enough to loosen and tighten on wrist.
Fred Harvey was an entrepreneur whose credits include influencing the Navajo Native American Indians. Fred Harvey was born in 1835 and died in 1901. Consequently, he died well before the success of his Harvey House restaurants and other endeavors. Harvey advocated for Native American Indians to produce “Indian” looking jewelry to sell as mementos to tourists who traveled the railroad out to the Western United States. Enthusiasts and collectors reference it as railroad jewelry or Route 66 jewelry. Fred Harvey jewelry is recognized by the thinly stamped sheet silver, raised accents or stamping such as Thunderbirds (a factitious bird); whirling logs, arrowheads, dogs and snakes are other popular motifs.
PERIOD: Late 20th Century
ORIGIN: Southwest - Navajo, Native American
SIZE: 5 1/4" plus 7/8" opening