Posted 4 years ago
spatania
(14 items)
Cuff bracelet in sterling silver and Burnham (Nevada) turquoise C. 1950 has Frank Patania Sr.'s "cartouche" hallmark which according to my father's article about Patania hallmarks (available on request) was made in the 1950s.
This cuff shows a construction that is unique to Frank Sr. in Southwestern silver and turquoise jewelry of that time. This cuff is made up of 60 handmade pieces joined together and formed. The base of the cuff is made of 3 main pieces which are stamped and repousse'd and formed into the cuff on which the flower and vine elements are added. The flower itself is a complex construction with 7 turquoise which are the centerpiece on a sterling frame repousse'd and formed.
This construction is more European than American but also has the influence of an artist who was comfortable constructing pieces with tens of elements that are all soldered together. This piece shows his training in gold and platinum both of which are much more amenable to multiple soldering operations than silver. This construction is a demonstration of his mastery of silversmithing.
