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A contemporary Navajo silver narrow
bangle-style bracelet by Jennifer Curtis
The old saying “Like Father, Like Daughter” certainly applies here in spades. Jennifer Curtis is a seriously
talented chip off the old block, which was her brilliant silversmith father, the late Thomas Curtis, Sr. (1942-2013). Thomas Curtis Sr. taught and mentored the young Jennifer in all aspects of traditional Navajo silversmithing beginning at around age eight and you can see the marvelous similarities in the work of these two artists; use of heavy solid silver, intricate precise and finely applied stamp and chisel work and a unique and compelling traditionally-based design sensibility with a distinctively modern twist.
This thin and extremely elegant bangle-style bracelet is a fine example of Jennifer Curtis’ work. Very precisely
applied geometric stamp work decoration nicely accentuated at both sides by beautiful chiseling around an attractively hand-fashioned highly-polished silver shank. It’s a contemporary modern treatment of one of the
most traditional themes in classic Navajo silver work; the narrow bangle bracelet of which many Navajo would
wear several stacked upon each other in a row.
“The awards are great honors, but the most important accomplishment is meeting
the standards of my family … I want my work to be as good as a handshake.”
-Jennifer Curtis
Quotation source: Garlands
The bracelet measures 3/16” in width all the way around. The inner circumference end-to-end is 5 5/8” and the gap between the terminals is 1 3/16” for a total interior circumference of 6 13/16”. The silver shank is an impressive 3/16” in thickness all the way around. The bracelet weighs a substantial for its slim width 25 grams or 7/8 ounce and is extremely comfortable on the wrist. It is in like new original condition and is signed on the interior with Jennifer Curtis’ customary cursive script hallmark of her first name “Jennifer” and it is also marked “Sterling”.
This is an extremely attractive, precious-looking and completely wearable piece by one of the finest
Navajo jewelry artists working today; a piece anyone should be proud to own.
Price $295
Jennifer Curtis in her studio.
Photo source and © Evan Sanders, Four Winds Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
