Here's a unique old dead pawn Zuni turquoise needlepoint cluster bracelet. An old 1897 Barber Silver Half Dollar coin was used as the centerpiece for this great cuff. It is set in a handmade bezel and surrounded with Sleeping Beauty turquoise needlepoints, whose colors have mellowed with age. This old pawn piece was originally custom made for an individual, rather than for the tourist trade or to be sold, since it the side pieces contain the cut-out initials J T (J in one side and T on the other side).

The piece is in good vintage condition, except the center support is broken, as shown in the photos, and there looks like a repair has been made to the other side of the center support. (I'm not sure about this, if it was repaired, it was done very well, but that area looks a little suspicious). So you can see that this bracelet cuff was well loved and worn often by it's previous owner. The exact age of the cuff is uncertain, but the piece was obtained from a New Mexico pawn shop about 20 years ago. And I don't know how old it was at the time it was obtained. I'm thinking this bracelet is from the 1940-60's.

As is the case more often that not with the earlier Native American jewelry, this piece is not marked for silver content or maker. However, I guarantee that it is coin silver (.900/90%) or sterling silver (.925/92.5%). When I test jewelry for silver content, I never drop the testing solution directly on the piece of jewelry since the acid could damage the piece. Rather I rub the piece against a testing stone and drop the acid on the testing stone.