Silver Concha Belt

Q: I have a belt made of silver ovals, like a concha belt. The only marks I see are "SS" and a squiggly line stamped on the back of two of the ovals. What do these marks mean? A: The mark is attributed to Stan Slim, a Navajo silversmith. The "squiggly line" underneath the initials […]

Margaret Tafoya Pot

Q: I purchased a pot by the Indian artist, Margaret Tafoya, in 1991. It is 4 1/4 inches tall by 5 3/4 inches wide. At the time I was told the value was $7,200. Since then Margaret has passed away and I would like to know if the value of this piece has increased. A: […]

A Parrot for Silver

This parrot mark can be found on Hopi silver jewelry made by an artist who worked in the Hopi village of Mishongnovi, Arizona, from before 1934 to 1962. Hopi silver makers began to mark their silver in the 1930s, but marks were not widely used until veterans’ classes were formed after World War II. The […]