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K Smith Navajo Spiny Oyster Butterfly Set RARE

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
K Smith Navajo Spiny Oyster Butterfly Set RARE
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Provided for auction in this lot is a finely crafted Kirk Smith, Navajo Native American Indian, Spiny Oyster Jewelry set, including a gorgeous charm style necklace, with matching earrings. The necklace is composed of five butterfly charms, and five spiny oyster cabochons, which link the necklace together. The necklace and earrings are based on white mirror tone silver, with red and orange spiny oyster making up the wings. The thorax, antennas, and eyes are comprised of opals, orange spiny oyster, lapis lazuli, and Orvil Jack turquoise. The five additional links simply show polished oval cabochons, with braided silver twist borders. The clasp of the necklace even shows fine craftsmanship, with an intricate locking box closure. The back of the main pendant is stamped "KS - Sterling", attributing the piece to master Navajo silversmith Kirk Smith. Additionally, the back of each earring is stamped simply with "Sterling". Smith was introduced to silversmithing as a young boy in the 1960's when he would spend time in his grandfathers workshop. Smith was classically trained by his brother-in-law Harry Morgan, and specialized in the mimicking of Old Pawn style jewelry, always utilizing the finest stones, and heavy silver. Smith made jewelry on and off until the 1980's when he picked it up full-time. Kirk Smith was not only a renowned master silversmith, but also a loving neighbor, and a mentor to many Navajo silversmiths, including; his son Raymondo Joe, many of the Martinez family, Fred and Dean Brown, and Anthony Skeet, to name a few. Smith was killed by a drunk driver in 2012, at which time some retailers and friends would consider his time of artistic resurgence. Kirk Smith's insistent need to use only the finest materials would qualify his pieces as "investment quality" even before his passing - with few examples of this necklace selling upwards of $3200, and being listed at prices up to $6000. Overall, this necklace shows very-good condition, boasting a naturally aged, warm silver patina on the front, and a nice white silver tone on the back, showing only slight storage wear. Additionally, the fine stones are tightly set, and are absent of cracks or chips. The necklace, when unclasped and stretched out measures 19 1/2" long. The main pendant measures 2 3/8" wide, and 2 1/2" tall. The four additional butterfly charms measure 1 5/8" wide, and 1 3/4" tall.