This distinctive Native American dinosaur bone and sterling silver link necklace was handmade by award winning Navajo artist, Orville Tsinnie. The necklace was created prior to year 2000 and was purchased from a woman who had inherited the necklace from her mother, but she has hardly worn it. So here is your opportunity to add a remarkable Orville Tsinnie necklace to your collection.
The beautiful red dinosaur bone has wonderful markings and is surrounded with Orville's distinctive silver work. The attached heavy handmade silver link chain necklace is a perfect example of Orville's traditional style.
The chain was handmade, one link at a time. The links are all the same size - about 1 inch long by a bit over 1/4 wide - heavy half-round wire is wrapped with smaller wire, creating a unique figure eight design. Each figure eight link is wrapped, at the center, in coils of Sterling Silver. These links alternate with simpler silver links that are about 1/2 long. The silver has been finished with a mirror shine that brings out the heavy silver look.
The necklace measures 21 inches long. The pendant measures 2 inches tall by 1-3/4 inches wide. Orville's hallmark is on the back of the pendant.
Orville often used fossilized dinosaur bone in his jewelry - it was one of his favorite stones. The bones are petrified with silica or quartz crystals which preserves the actual cell structure of the once living dinosaur. Non-gem grade fossilized dinosaur bones are found in many places around the world but the highly agatized and beautifully colored & patterned dinosaur bone known as gem grade dino bone such as the one used in this necklace is almost exclusively found in the four corners region of the Colorado Plateau in the USA (where the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado touch). This is close to where Orville used to lived and he collected gem-grade dino bone for use in his jewelry.
Orville Tsinnie was an internationally known and well respected master silversmith with 42 years of experience working with gold and silver. He passed away in May of 2017. He had won numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Indian Arts and Crafts Association (IACA), an honor that brought well-deserved recognition to this fine American Indian artist. The level of craftsmanship in Orville's work is superior. His designs are flawlessly executed, his soldering technique very clean, and his finishing and polishing meticulous. This careful attention to detail sets Orville's jewelry apart from many others.