A Final Word on August Shows, and Another Reason to Come to Santa Fe

 Here we are in August, and our show schedule has been finalized.  There is no mask mandate in Santa Fe at the moment, and things are looking pretty good here.  So, here is the schedule:

Whitehawk Show:

OPENING NIGHT PREVIEW
Friday, August 13th
6pm – 9pm
Tickets $50.00 per person

THE SHOW
Saturday, Aug. 14th – Monday, Aug. 16th
10am – 5pm Daily
Tickets $15.00 per day or $25.00 for Run of Show

One thing that is different this year is that there is no dinner associated with the opening night preview, which is really too bad.  But still, it is a great opportunity to get a look at the show before the regular crowd arrives.  Turkey Mountain Traders will be in a new and bigger booth this year, directly to the left of the front door as you enter.  Our selection of jewelry, textiles and other surprises is as strong this year as it has ever been, so please check us out!

Native Treasures Show at the Eldorado Hotel:

Thursday, August 19th to Sunday, August 22nd, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For those who have not been to this show, it is definitely a must-see.  And the price is right, since admittance is free!  The show is indoors and air-conditioned, which makes it a very pleasant place to be on some of those hot August days.  The show is slanted towards jewelry, though there are plenty of other works of art to be found there.  Our booth is in the back right-hand corner, the same place we were in 2019.

If you arrive in town before Whitehawk and would like a private showing, Turkey Mountain Traders is available for private appointments on the 10th and 11th at our townhouse, located a short drive from the Plaza.  Call us at (480) 423-8777 or (602) 819-5758 for your appointment.

ANOTHER REASON TO VISIT SANTA FE

For those of us who love old Native American silverwork, there is a great new exhibition at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture (MIAC) on Museum Hill.  It is a collection of silverwork, mostly Navajo, that was purchased by former curator H. P. Mera on a trip through Indian Country in 1932.  Everything dates prior to 1932  (obviously) and it is fascinating to examine the various techniques and styles that were being used at the time.  For example, the amount of commercial silver for bezels that was available at the time was much greater than many people currently think, and Persian turquoise was also more heavily used in the 1920s than we thought.  All in all, some extraordinary pieces with fantastic provenance.  No catalog, unfortunately.  The show is well worth a special trip up the hill to MIAC when you are in town, both for the beauty of the pieces and the information they can offer.

The (current) word on our August shows

One of the big questions running around our part of the world lately has been, "What is going on with the August shows in Santa Fe?"  Now that it has been announced that Indian Market will be going ahead in a slightly reduced form on August 21-22, come clarity has been brought to the situation.  There are still questions to be answered, but here is what we know right now.  Nothing is set in stone, but the information we are giving here is at least set in Jell-O.

Turkey Mountain Traders (TMT) is currently scheduled to do two shows in Santa Fe in August.  The first is the Whitehawk Show at the Santa Fe Convention Center on August 13-16.  Many of you have been to this show, which is without question the finest antique Indian and Ethnographic art show in the world.  This year, TMT will be in a new and larger booth, right next to the front entrance.  We have been stockpiling material since March of 2020, so our collection should be among the best we have ever offered.  The second show is the Native Treasures show at the Eldorado Hotel, August 19-22.  Unlike the Whitehawk show, this show has not been confirmed yet, but it looks promising.  This is a very diverse show, with items ranging from irreplaceable treasures from the greatest living Indian artists to things that are far more affordable.  This show takes place on the Thursday and Friday before Indian Market, as well as the two days of Market, and is a must-see.  Works by many artists who do not exhibit at Indian Market can be found at this show, as well as vintage and antique pieces.  We will be in the same corner booth as we occupied in 2019, if you visited the show then.

What is really new and exciting for TMT is that we will be moving into a new private gallery space in Santa Fe, which will be available for private showings starting on August 8.  It is located fewer than 5 miles from the Santa Fe Plaza--an easy drive, with good parking.  If you would like an early look at our treasures in August before the shows open, give us a call and we would be happy to welcome you to our new gallery.

What we know about Indian Market is that it will be held on August 21 and 22 on the Santa Fe Plaza, and the number of booths will be limited to 500 (down from around 850).  The word is that there will be tickets for sale for entry, though how that will be handled is still up in the air.  The best source for immediate information is the SWAIA website.  (UPDATE: tickets for each day will be $40 for admission at 6 a.m. and $20 for admission at 8 a.m.  SWAIA will begin selling tickets to SWAIA members on May 28 and to the general public on May 29.)

If you have any questions about our Santa Fe schedule, please give us a call at (480) 423-8777, or drop us an email.

A very important piece in the history of Southwestern Indian silverwork

 The word "important" is used far too often in the art world in general, and the Southwestern Indian silverwork world in particular.  Importance is a very subjective concept, and what makes something "important" is very hard to define.  Is a piece "important" because it is early?  Or because someone who is now famous made it?  The answer to both may well be yes, but not necessarily.  Early pieces can be minor and unimportant, and not everything made by a famous artist can be considered a masterpiece.  How about if a piece is pictured in a book, or displayed in a major museum?  Again, maybe, but maybe not.

But what if something combines all of these things?  If that is the case, then calling it "important" is probably not a stretch.  It is not often that such a confluence of factors occurs, and it is notable indeed when something does indeed check all the boxes.  Something like that just happened in Turkey Mountain Traders' inventory, and we are excited and proud to tell everyone about it.

First, a bit of background.  One of the most common questions we are asked involves hallmarks, and when they came into use in the American Indian Southwest.  It is a known fact that, left to their own devices, early Indian silversmiths did not use hallmarks until the mid-1920s, and infrequently even then.  After much coaxing by traders and patrons, hallmarks came into more common use in the 1930s and 1940s, and today it is unusual for an Indian smith to not hallmark their work.  The absolute earliest that a hallmarked piece can be found with a solid date is 1925, and that piece is shown below:

It is a cast silver and turquoise belt buckle in the Heard Museum, formerly in the collection of C. G. Wallace.  The image is from BLUE GEM WHITE METAL by Deb Slaney, as is the passage below:

The buckle is the earliest hallmarked piece with solid provenance known to exist anywhere.  It was the beginning of the recognition of the Indian silversmith as a true artist, worthy of individual recognition by collectors, scholars and the art world in general.  Which is why it was so exciting for us when we found this: 

  

Very slightly different, but clearly by the same hand using the same techniques (casting and channel inlay) and done at the same time.  And how about a hallmark?

There it is, the mark of Juan DiDeos.  Hallmarked pieces by him are rare, as are inlaid pieces by him.  To find a piece with both a hallmark and inlay that can be dated so early is truly an amazing occurrence.  This is truly one of the most important pieces of silver we have ever offered for sale.

The turquoise is probably Blue Gem, and the buckle measures 2 1/2" x 2 1/8".  Weight 49 grams.  Takes up to a 3/4" leather.  SOLD