Large Vintage Leekya Deyuse Zuni Carved Turquoise Leaf, Sterling Silver Bolo Tie

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Large Vintage Leekya Deyuse Zuni Carved Turquoise Leaf, Sterling Silver Bolo Tie:
$8500.00

This Leekya Deyuse Leaf Bolo Tie, is an "authentic" Leekya Deyuse carved Leaf. I have the authentication and provenance from a very well respected and prominent dealer/trader/gallery of Native American that it was purchased from. Buy with confidence! The authentication is as follows:  

“Artist: Leekya Deyuse”

“Circa: 1940s - 1950s”

“Provenance: Private Arizona Collector” 

“This splendid Leekya Deyuse bolo features a very large natural turquoise carved leaf. The turquoise is from one of the early finds of the Blue Gem mine in Nevada. A hand crafted silver twist wire frames a 1/4" tall bezel that is tightly formed around each and every curve of the stone. A stamped flat silver band has been placed across the stone to possibly cover a thin fracture or for stability. The bolo measures 3 1/2" long by 2" wide. Hangs 38" long total length including beautiful, heavy stamped silver tips. The leaf has been dated to have been carved in the 40's, with the bolo being made in the 50's. It appears the back bars have been replaced, probably because of wear in recent years. The back of the bolo also has an etched traders coded KTR which matches the C.G. Wallace coding. The original leather rope has some wear and can easily be replaced.”

The weight of the bolo is: 101 grams/3.56 ounces. The tips are 2 7/8” long and very sturdy, heavy weight.

Note: The silver band mentioned above was professionally removed as it is not needed. There is a very thin fine line fracture that is completely tight and sound which does not go all the way across and will not separate. Also, there is another fine line fracture noticed near the stem and again does not go all the way across and will not separate. (See photos). These 2 fine line fractures are very old fractures and in person, are hardly seen. They are normal to many old pieces of turquoise jewelry and are tolerated because of the age of the piece and also in this case, the fame of the carver.

Leekya Deyuse is the number one, most famous and sought after Zuni turquoise jewelry carver ever! His carvings, especially his carved leaves, bring the highest prices and continue to escalate. He worked for C.G. Wallace from the 1920’s and in 1974 Sotheby’s sale: “The C. G. Wallace Collection of Zuni Jewelry” brought the highest astounding prices ever paid at the time for many of Leekya Deyuse leaf necklaces and other fetish pieces.

This very large Leekya Deyuse leaf is the biggest I have ever seen set in a piece of jewelry and it is also, a big chunk of Zuni history, made by the greatest of them all.... Most of Leekya’s jewelry pieces are with private collectors and it is extremely hard to find his work anywhere...