Up for your consideration is this vintage Native American handmade 14K Gold & Sterling Silver bolo, featuring three large genuine turquoise stones, created by Zuni legends Robert & Bernice Leekya. The stones are carved in Robert Leekya's signature style.

The main bolo piece measures 3-5/8" tall by 2-5/8" wide. Locking Bennett pat. pending clasp on the back. The gold tips are 1-7/8" long. The 44" long leather bolo tie is a bit worn in two spots but still in good shape. Otherwise, the piece is in top collector quality condition.

This piece was purchased for a private collection in the 1960-70's. We purchased this collection from the family estate several months ago.

The piece is marked in pen (by person/s unknown) as "18K Gold over S/S". However, when I tested the piece myself with gold testing solutions, my testing indicates that the piece is 14K gold over Sterling Silver.

Robert Leekya is the son of famous fetish carver Leekya Deyuse. When his children entered school, Leekya requested that they take his first name as their surname. All of his children (Alice, Sarah, Elizabeth, Robert and Roger) did so. Robert and his brother Roger and sister Elizabeth became silversmiths. His sisters Alice Leekya Homer and Sarah Leekya (Homer) are known as fetish carvers.

The bolo slide on the backs on Native American bolos can aid in determining the age of a vintage bolo. Bolos were not made much before the 1930's. During that time, the backs of bolos were made with coin silver wires, not sterling. 1941 was the year sterling came into play. Bolos marked with a "Bennett Pat Pend C31" slide were made between 1957 until some time in 1967. Slides marked with a "Bennett Pat Pend" slide were made from 1967 - 1983. Sometime in 1983 saw the elimination of the stamped Bennett slide. This bolo has a

This bolo has the "Bennett Pat Pend C31" indicating it was from the early 1960's.