When the railroad made its way through the American Southwest, there was a demand for tourist lodgings and food. Enter a British-American gentleman named Fred Harvey. He created the concept of the modern fast-food restaurant with the Harvey Houses. But, during this time, Native American artisans were creating silver pieces for trade amongst themselves and at times, other settlers in the region.

The innovation that was born of it has gone on to become an important part of American Style: Native American jewelry. Harvey wanted to sell pieces to tourists. Natives were already selling pieces to tourists, and he wanted in on it since it was a hit. So, many pieces were created during this time that catered to the tourist market. Many were not made for the Fred Harvey company. This is one of those pieces.

The influence of the demand for jewelry tourists would like (lighter pieces, more accessible, etc) is why this piece is the way it is. And Americans were in love with them from about 1910 - 1960. By the mid-‘50s, a more Art Nouveau style crept up from Mexico and the era was all but over. By the ‘70s, the “old style” from the late 1800s to the 1930s became popular again. Pieces got larger and more “authentically Native”. By the ‘80s, pieces began to take on a more modernist look and feel. By the 1990s, you saw some of all of it. But the Harvey Era pieces were more or less considered tourist kitsch and nonsense. So what happened?

Well, there was a revival in the 2010s, and people like it. Slowly the public accepted them for what they were: cool pieces made during the westward expansion and catered to the tourist market.

Okay, so what’s my point? Well, I just wanted to give context to a piece like this. This isn’t a piece made for the trading posts or FHC (Fred Harvey Company). It’s an old Navajo piece made during that era. But its style falls into the influences of the time. Navajo artisans rarely had the tools an FHC factory on the Lower East Side had. But that’s half the charm of the piece. The charm is an artist working in a difficult medium (silver) and creating what will go on to be a timeless piece of art from an era we can’t get back. By dumb luck, many pieces like these were saved from being turned into scrap. Giving us a glimpse of all of the diverse influences that went into making the Native folks of the American Southwest some of the best silver artisans in history. And single-handedly carrying a major element of American fashion on their backs.

Now that you know all of this, you can go ahead and get this piece. But be sure to extend your love to the artists creating pieces now. The old pieces should be loved, yes. But there are new artists still working in this tradition. A tradition as American denim jeans, boots, and Open Road Stetsons. As American as sweet corn, Massachusetts, and Iroquois style federalism.