This is a gorgeous late Fred Harvey era turquoise cuff. That is a boring opening statement, but trying to think of a clever opening is eating me alive. I hate telling you that something is gorgeous because you obviously clicked on it so what does that even mean in that context? You either think it’s so terrible that you want to know why anyone would offer such an abomination. Or you already jazzed about the piece and telling you it’s gorgeous is like telling you that water is wet.

That’s the wacky part about writing copy. There’s a lot to say about the piece, but it depends on the audience. Because the audience is general, I end up having to repeat some parts in clever ways. For example, I called this piece a Fred Harvey Era cuff. But this may be lost on some parts of the audience. This is okay, but that means I would have to mention Fred Harvey, the Santa Fe Railroad, and the “opening” of the West to tourism. Then I’d have to backtrack and mention that this piece isn’t from the Fred Harvey Company, but that the “era” is really just a time where the cultural influences of the market meant that native artists produced pieces that people wanted to buy -- which is a common theme in art. But then I’d get worried that I’m giving Fred Harvey too much credit. He didn’t invent the pieces, he just popularized them by selling them in his gift shops. But this wasn’t before enterprising Native folks were already selling them at the stations and near the hotels anyway. But I don’t want to discredit him, as he had some insights and he’s half the reason sterling silver was used for these pieces instead of coin silver -- as sterling was a popular British standard and he was British.

Then I’d go on to mention the pieces' influences. In that Native artisans weren’t unaware of the world around them and devoid of influences and contact. This would be to demonstrate that they were a sophisticated culture long before the railroad made its way out there. I’d do that to make sure that I’m not coming across as paternalistic, which is something I read even in books on the matter. Cultures are dynamic and complex and though we’re willing to talk about the renaissance as containing influences from Arabia, Spain, the ancient Greeks, and others, we tend to talk about Native cultures as if they weren’t trading with others, conducting business, and doing all of the cosmopolitan things everyone else on the planet were doing.

Then I’d have to find a way to close. Usually, I’d tie some idea from the point of the writing. It’s ye olde creative writing 101. This means I’d then have to edit some part of what I said above because it doesn’t help my point. But the editing then leads to missing ideas or points that’ll get removed from those sentences. But my endings for Fred Harvey Era-era pieces usually tie it back to American fashion. My point here is usually that Ralph Lauren does it, Madewell does it, and everyone else does it. So you get one of these pieces and be happy. But my idea here is to also buy newer pieces, as vintage pieces are a necessary part of any collection, but newer artists deserve our support. Not out of charity, but because the work is some of the best in the world -- given the long tradition of creating these works.

Then I’d wonder if it’s too long. Then I’d think to myself “no, every piece needs folks to understand what, why, and where”. My thing is even if you don’t get it from me, you’ll at least walk away knowing what it is and why it is. Which, to me, outside of the thrill of someone getting something they love, is very important.