Navajo Old Pawn Ring

Yesterday, this beautiful ring arrived in the mail from an online auction. It is a stamped silver, Vintage Old Pawn ring with two decorate leaves, surrounding a pearl. Gorg! Old Pawn is a style of Native American jewelry and as the name would imply, it has a pawn history.

Navajo and Zuni tribes would create the most stunning pieces, usually of turquoise and/or pearl and wear them, not only as a bit of wealth and beauty, but also strength. Whenever one was to be made the buyer would go to a tribal silversmith to have it custom designed and fitted.

But economies are cyclical and what was purchased in a time of plenty, may be needed for cash in less bountiful times. In the absence of a standard banking and loan system, the jewelry would be pawned for cash until the next crop came in and reclaim the piece, usually just in time for ceremonies and tribal gatherings. Unfortunately not everyone would always reclaim their jewelry, thus releasing it into wider circulation. These pieces also left reservations and families when a loved one died and were pawned to raise cash.

So when you run across one of these pieces, please be tender with them. You're holding a bit of someone's life. If these things could talk, they would tell you stories of dinners with family, ceremonial dances, weddings, births and changing of seasons.

Dimensions: 5/8 x ½ inch (top of the ring)

Size: 5.5

Cost: I lucked out getting this well below retail... I don't think the seller knew what she had. These usually run $40 upwards with some Old Pawn bracelets reaching $300+ depending on the size, type and age of the item.

Enamel Travel Shield Charms

Ever had a really kick butt day? I just stumbled across a cache of vintage travel charms dating from the 1950s onwards at an auction.  Unbelievable!

If I had a mind to, I could sell them at $12 – $50 a piece, but these are all keepers. Most of them are of places that I have traveled to in the past and others are just too awesome to let go.  My favorites are Santander and Lucerne...if I ever find duplicates of these, I'm turning them into earrings.

Money tells a story...it always has.

Last week I picked up this coin bracelet from an estate sale! I know...I still can't get over someone willingly giving this up.

It is full of coins from the four corners of the world, minted over the last thirty five years.  This is the fourth such bracelet that I've added to my personal collection. One holds coins I've collected from the countries I've visited, while the other three has coins from the early 1900s-1930s.
The jingle jangle of money can always bring a smile to my face.

Intro

Once a week, I try to find the best deals in town when it comes to old school fashion. My heart lies in designs that are Edwardian, Victorian and Art Deco in nature, as well as traditional charm bracelets. 

My heart...not my wallet. 

The trick then is to find these items at a good price.  Regular haunts of mine are antique shows, estate auctions, thrift stores and (yes) pawn shops. It's a treasure hunt really and I never know just what I'll find.  As a historian, I need something with story.  As an (almost) thirtysomething, I need something fashionable. Here's where it'll all come together.