A gorgeous sterling silver buckle featuring big, beautiful and bright blue turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona. A classic example of Navajo workmanship. It is hallmarked by the artist and stamped sterling. If you love Navajo jewelry or know someone who does this is the perfect piece to add to a Native American jewelry collection. A great accessory for a guy or girl. The buckle measures 3" X 2" and will take a 1" wide belt. For more information please visit www.EagleDancerGallery.com or call (281) 332 6028. Friday, November 22, 2013
Sterling Silver Three Stone Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Belt Buckle.
A gorgeous sterling silver buckle featuring big, beautiful and bright blue turquoise from the Sleeping Beauty mine in Arizona. A classic example of Navajo workmanship. It is hallmarked by the artist and stamped sterling. If you love Navajo jewelry or know someone who does this is the perfect piece to add to a Native American jewelry collection. A great accessory for a guy or girl. The buckle measures 3" X 2" and will take a 1" wide belt. For more information please visit www.EagleDancerGallery.com or call (281) 332 6028. 
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Navajo Crafted Dream Catchers.
Dreamcatchers.... Handmade for us by Navajo artists in New Mexico and Arizona our dreamcatchers are among the best available. Increasingly hard to find Native American made dreamcatchers are wonderful gifts and peaceful additions to your own collection. Our dreamcatchers measures from 2, 4, 6 inches across up to 15+ inches across it all depends on the dreamcatcher. Prices start at $16.95 and ours often feature crystals, bone fetishes, stone arrow points and more. More modern colors are beginning to appear as new Native artists are creating current designs. Please specify the color of web you would like. Red, black, blue, light purple, or green.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
...as you gather more and better quality pieces...
A topic that is too often neglected in our personal lives... is the monetary "worth" of our collections of personal property.
To think of it objectively or look at it like this... Imagine you are in an open field looking at a nice and neat gathering of all these great things someone has gathered throughout a lifetimes journey. You seem to like the selection and agree it is some quality gear.
Using a neat velvet rope barricade there is indeed an owner of this quality stuff nearby and an insurance person too to make sure all the gear is safely guarded.
Everything seems in orderly enough.
There is art, jewelry, guns {super neat old antique type of guns mostly but some new ones too!}. There's some great vintage and new electronics, very nice clothing and shoes, there are stacks and stacks of CD's and hard-drives with digital music files stored on them, there are several great musical instruments such as a 1958 Les Paul guitar... you get the idea, there's some great stuff there!
Now... all of the sudden the entire gathering easily and effortlessly catches on fire!
The entire gathering is reduced to ashes and what is left that would not burn completely is... well, not in very good condition.
The devastated owner visits with the insurance staff and begins the process of compensation for replacing the great stuff as quickly as possible. The insurance folks are kind enough and do what they have been paid to do and compensate the owner for the "actual value" of the stuff which they are somewhat aware was in the gathering. But unfortunately the insurance folks don't know what was "actually" in the gathering they only have a rough estimate based on descriptions from the owner. They rely heavily on the owner to inform them of the stuff that was part of the collection.
When the "level" of financial reparation has been reached based on the policy value {pre-determined levels for jewelry, pre-determined levels for household goods ie: electronics, clothing etc..., pre-determined levels for the guns, pre-determined levels for all the art works etc...} there arises a problem... and a big problem.
The owner says there was more jewelry and artwork in the gathering than was compensated for!
And... the artworks and jewelry are "worth way more" than what compensation shows. The owner simply cannot re-purchase similar items at the amounts the insurance compensated them for.
Uh-ho... now the insurance folks have to make a terrible decision. Do they "take the owner at their word" and compensate {with replacement value} for items the owner is claiming to have owned or do they stick to their policy descriptions and stop.
Insurance companies are not among the largest conglomerates in much of the world because they roll-over or give-in!
Nope... they agreed to a policy amount with the owner and that's what they'll honor. It's not the insurance companies fault that all this great stuff escalated in such a way that it surpassed the values of the policy amounts. It's not the insurance companies fault the owner did not "inform them" {aka: schedule items specifically} that were now part of this once modestly valued collection of great stuff but has grown exponentially. Nope... it's not the insurance companies responsibility to keep up with the values of their clients collections.
That your responsibility!
Re-evaluating your collection of great stuff is actually fairly easy too.
As an appraiser trained with the ISA {International Society of Appraisers - Chicago} what I generally tell my clients is... on the next really rainy day where you simply don't want to go outside, take a few hours to cruise around your home with a video cam/still cam and shoot a photos of your stuff.
That's a start!!!
But... it's not the end-all-be-all for an appraisal or an assessment of current value. The insurance company "may" {and I stress may!} take that as an adjunct to identifying your collection at a given point in time but photos alone will most likely not help establish "value" for the items in the pictures. That is up to you.
During your jaunt around your home collection mentally tally up what you feel are the current market values for the top 100 things you enjoy the most. In other words... if you could safely run back into the fire and grab a select few items {say 30 items} and save them from burning what items would they be?
Besides people, pets and personal non-replaceable items such as family portraits and the like you would probably {instinctively} gather the most valuable items in your collection. Don't feel bad we'd all do the exact same thing.
As I tell my clients, begin with a current market assessment of the top 10 things you absolutely know are of great market value and get them to an appraiser you trust. You may actually be surprised that everything is not as valuable as you might think. Some things are and some are not. If you reach a level of replacement value that is beyond the "levels" established with you current policy {dialog with your insurance agent to discover what levels your policy has} then re-negotiate with the insurance company coverage for the items that are of exceeding value.
One more thing... re-evaluate every few years or more depending on the items you are collecting.
Just one example of fluctuating market values.... Autographs and celebrity memorabilia escalate and depreciate rapidly. Some are relatively easy to obtain but escalate up {an autograph by Neil Armstrong - first person on the moon - was free to get for some} while some are expensive to get when the celeb is a hot commodity {a Michael Jordan signed game jersey - very expensive several years ago} and then they fade from public eye and the value of the autographed item depreciates. You may be insuring a value-less item for no reason!
Re-evaluate often especially as your intuition tells you that you have gathered the quality trappings of a life lived well.
Another neat example of simple market fluctuation with regards to personal property...
Yours truly preparing to appraise and older {circa 1930's to 1960's} Acoma Native crafted pottery vessel.
The vessel was part of a Texas collection. The vessel was purchased originally by elders in the family when they returned from WWII. The vessel was purchased at the Governors Palace plaza square in Santa Fe, New Mexico for approximately "$4.00 to $5.00 dollars I think" as best the original owner could recall. The current market value at the time of the appraisal {for the family who was to inherit the vessel} was approximately $1200.00 to $2100.00
Take care of your collection... it's up to you to know what it's worth and to follow-up with insurance coverage as needed.
...a timeless style accessory for gentlemen...
...a timeless style accessory for gentlemen...
I hear it said often that most men feel they don't have a variety of fashion "choices" when it comes to dressing for classic style.
Rings, watches, necklaces/pendants and bracelets are among the top go-to's for gentlemen when we decide to accessorize our fashion.
It's my thought that a well chosen ring, bracelet, pendant/necklace are critical choices for a man to feel comfortable with his accessories. If the accessory selection is not given consideration for how well it will "blend" with the mans personal style then often the fellow will feel "conspicuous" when wearing any type of fashion accessory at all.
Truth be known... Men are much more fragile {than we are often thought to be} when it comes to how friends and loved ones perceive us. A poorly chosen personal accessory will certainly lead to silent damage of the male psyche and cause us to "steer clear" of any fashionable accessory that might cause such us such consternation.
Unfortunately {in my 30+ years} of retail fashion outlet ownership I have seen this time and time again.
Men are fragile creatures... Especially when we venture in what we might feel is unfamiliar/uncharted territory of the "male fashion accessory"!
"Errr on the side of classic!"... Is one piece of advice I always hope to my gentlemen clients learn from me when it comes to accessorizing. An amazing thing... We {men} can always "upgrade" styles and get more "bold" with your personal style as you feel more comfortable with who you are. There is no edict on what is fashionable for a man to accessorize with... really, there's not!!!
The only aspect that really must be considered when it comes to accessorizing for men is your personal level of comfort with your style.
What you might think to try...
Native / Western style.
From my experience quality pieces of Native / Western are always trendy and in vogue! Accessorizing with a classic piece of Native / Western you'll feature a style idea that is actually "in" regardless of the fleeting - immediate fashion trends.
Classic Native / Western has served men well for decades. More than likely {and way before mass-media had a stake in fashion trends} your grandfather or great grandfather probably work Native / Western.
Give it some thought but choose gently... Try something classic in style then ramp it up from there.
A few pieces I like in particular are pictured below. If these particular pieces I feature are available {as quality Native / Western is almost always handmade and very limited in quantity} simply use them as a basis for you alternate selection.
Take the pictures to a local outlet {or an online outlet} and show them to the staff, they should have a handle on similar pieces for you to try.
If you feel uncomfortable when you try it on go for something more conservative and/or more robust. Believe it or not I have personally tried on rings and watches that I felt immediately were "too dainty" or "too small" for me {and I'm not a big guy!}. But my personality is larger and I feel comfortable wearing bolder accessories.
Find a retailer {online or traditional style} that you can dialog with and begin a wonderful experience discovering your personal style.
Vintage {1970's} Zuni crafted inlay ring featuring turquoise, red coral, black jet and white shell - set in sterling silver.
Classic style Navajo crafted 14kt yellow gold ring with gem grade natural turquoise
14kt yellow gold re-cast of vintage {1950's for the original} Thunderbird ring
Sterling silver ring featuring natural turquoise inlay - Navajo hand crafted
Sterling silver ring featuring multi stone inlay of turquoise, lapis, malachite, spiny oyster shell, white magnacite, white mother of pearl - Navajo hand crafted
For information on these rings and other accessories for men please visit
League City, Texas
281.332.6028
..."All My Relations" ~ The timeless designs of Native American fetish necklaceses...
"All My Relations" Fetish carving necklaces ~ Jewelry from the Navajo and Zuni of Arizona and New Mexico
Forged deep within the roots of Native American spirituality the Fetish carving jewelry is among the most thoughtful and respectful ...
Forged deep within the roots of Native American spirituality the Fetish carving jewelry is among the most thoughtful and respectful ...
in all Native culture.
The early ancestors and Medicine people of the Zuni, Navajo, Sioux, Cheyenne, Comanche and many other nations paid homage to our animal relations. Believing in the balance between respect, honor, loyalty and necessity the Holy people asked for guidance and bounty from the animals that surround us all. The Holy people knew the animals could speak to us if we simply knew how to listen. The Holy people knew the animals would provide themselves to us for nourishment as needed so long as respect and balance was achieved. The Holy people carved tributes to all animals in order to recognize this scared balance and maintain the circle of life.
Zuni Pueblo hunters asked the Holy people to carve a special animal as a "totem or guide" for the hunter to use in order to gain the wisdom and knowledge of their totem. This special knowledge was especially beneficial during a hunt for food. The sacred bond between your guiding totem and you would be helpful in a vision quest for enlightenment and balance.
Chief Seattle of Duwamish Nation was once quoted "What we do to the animals and to the earth, we do to ourselves" ... He believed as many people do that we must take care of them for they will take care of us, we are indeed all related!
These Navajo carved fetish necklaces are just some of the many ways the new Native American artists celebrate their tradition and place in the circle of life.
These fetish necklaces are an excellent way to celebrate your connection and love for your animal guides.
The early ancestors and Medicine people of the Zuni, Navajo, Sioux, Cheyenne, Comanche and many other nations paid homage to our animal relations. Believing in the balance between respect, honor, loyalty and necessity the Holy people asked for guidance and bounty from the animals that surround us all. The Holy people knew the animals could speak to us if we simply knew how to listen. The Holy people knew the animals would provide themselves to us for nourishment as needed so long as respect and balance was achieved. The Holy people carved tributes to all animals in order to recognize this scared balance and maintain the circle of life.
Zuni Pueblo hunters asked the Holy people to carve a special animal as a "totem or guide" for the hunter to use in order to gain the wisdom and knowledge of their totem. This special knowledge was especially beneficial during a hunt for food. The sacred bond between your guiding totem and you would be helpful in a vision quest for enlightenment and balance.
Chief Seattle of Duwamish Nation was once quoted "What we do to the animals and to the earth, we do to ourselves" ... He believed as many people do that we must take care of them for they will take care of us, we are indeed all related!
These Navajo carved fetish necklaces are just some of the many ways the new Native American artists celebrate their tradition and place in the circle of life.
These fetish necklaces are an excellent way to celebrate your connection and love for your animal guides.
Currently available at Eagle Dancer Gallery ~ Texas
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Beautiful Native American Jewelry
Sioux crafted chokers by M. Redthunder - Lakota heritage
available at:
Eagle Dancer Gallery ~ Texas
159 South Gulf Freeway, Leauge City, Texas 77573
281.332.6028
281.332.6028
A trusted source for quality Native American Art
A thought for enhancing the classic blazer for this season.... Add a vintage pin to your lapel!
Here's what I did...
A thought for enhancing the classic blazer for this season.... Add a vintage pin to your lapel!
Here's what I did...
My wife and I went to see a symphony recently{and it was an extraordinary performance by our wonderful symphony by the way, I highly recommend that you catch at least one performance if you can, you won't be disappointed!}. Our symphony date gave me an opportunity to add a sport coat to my daily attire. But... besides the classic black I decided to add an element of unusual with the addition of a genuine vintage {1920's} Harvey era Navajo crafted pin. The pin features the classic Native symbols of the Thunderbird, an arrow and a circle. All the symbols have special significance to the Native American and have been part of their {our} culture for centuries. The pin I wore is genuine vintage Native crafted which Eagle Dancer Gallery always features an evolving and changing selection. Stop in at the gallery in League City, Texas or visit online and see what would look great on your blazer or jacket.
Try it... vintage western pins on gent's jackets are always in vogue!
I'll continue to add some ideas and tips I've gleaned from 30+ years in the retail fashion industry especially as they relate to fashion ideas for men.
I enjoy a "classic" western trend to my fashion ~ I hope you do as well.
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