Ella Peter vintage silver jewelry

Ella Peter vintage silver jewelry
Born in 1943, Ella Peter is a prominent Navajo silversmith raised in Mentmore New Mexico. The girl began learning jewelry making very early, as her father was a silversmith who taught her the crafts. Noteworthy, only men could practice silversmithing, at least before 1920s. Later, Navajo women proved to be talented silversmiths as well.
By 1970 Ella Peter has already been an experienced master silversmith with her own views on design and with her own signature. Handcrafting her jewelry, Ella Peter used sterling silver and traditional for Navajo silversmith turquoise stone. Also, she used other multicolor natural stones – onyx, malachite, lapis lazuli and coral.
Ella Peter’s jewelry includes floral and animal motifs as well as geometric designs. In addition, the jeweler often used the folklore character Kokopelli – the god of abundance among the ancient Indian tribes. Jewelry with this symbol can be worn as a talisman, to attract wealth and fertility, and simply to fulfill the most secret desires. By the way, the alternative name of Kokopelli is the god of young families.

Ella Peter vintage silver jewelry