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An exceptionally beautiful, heavy Navajo Sterling silver cuff bracelet by Jennifer Curtis, c. 2020’s
How many little girls grow up literally with a silversmith’s hammer in their small hands? Jennifer Curtis (b.1964)
is one who did, first beginning to work silver at the very tender age of eight at the side of her famous Father, the outstanding Navajo silversmith Thomas Curtis, Sr. (1942-2013). The old saying “Like Father, Like Daughter” certainly applies here and in spades. Jennifer Curtis is a very serious and especially talented chip off the old block; Thomas Curtis Sr. taught and mentored the young Jennifer in all aspects of traditional Navajo silversmithing and you can clearly see the marvelous similarities in the work of these two fine artists; use of heavy solid silver, intricate,
precisely and deeply-applied stamp and chisel work and a powerful, bold and compelling traditional design sensibility.
This fine bracelet is a simply exceptional example of Jennifer Curtis’ work, an extremely attractive, beautifully-crafted and easily wearable piece by one of the most talented Navajo silversmiths working today. Aesthetically and technically, it is first-rate in every respect. The thick silver shank is superbly and intricately decorated everywhere; all the way around on the front and all the way around on both the top and bottom edges. The stampwork decoration here is nothing short of phenomenal; brilliantly designed artistically and technically done to perfection. And, interestingly, the stampwork was accomplished with her Father's original handmade stamps (as seen below) which she inherited from him. To further set off and highlight the beautiful stampwork designs, the highly-polished silver surface of the bracelet’s shank has a remarkably beautiful and visually intense “color” and glow.
"The awards are great honors, but the most important
accomplishment is meeting the standards of my family …
I want my work to be as good as a handshake.”
-Jennifer Curtis
Quotation source: Garland’s
At left, Thomas Curtis Sr. and his daughter Jennifer at a rodeo event in Arizona, c. 1990's.
At right, Jennifer Curtis’s handmade jewelry stamps which she inherited from her father.
Left photo source and © Arizona Highways Magazine. Right photo source and © Four Winds Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA.
“My work is an extension of my history, my family. My biggest influence is my master, my teacher, my father. His recent passing has brought special meaning to each swing of the hammer, each design I create.”
-Jennifer Curtis, 2014
The bracelet measures 5/8" in continuous width all the way around and the heavy silver shank is a full 3/8" in thickness. The inner circumference end-to-end is 5 1/2" and the gap between the terminals is 1 1/8" for a total interior circumference of 6 5/8". The bracelet weighs a solid and substantial 110 grams or 3 7/8 ounces, just shy of a quarter pound of solid silver goodness, yet it is extremely comfortable on the wrist. The bracelet is in completely excellent original condition with a very slight amount of wear and it is properly signed on the interior with Jennifer Curtis’ cursive hallmark of her first name “Jennifer” and it is also stamped "Sterling".
This bracelet makes a definitive statement, so to speak, with a bold and commanding presence. It’s large and in charge, just like its talented maker. Jennifer Curtis is on a distinct and dramatic creative roll these past few years. In our view, her work in terms of its originality, quality of design and technical virtuosity and expression is rapidly approaching the exalted standard set by the reigning modern master of Navajo silver, McKee Platero. That is in every significant way but one, which you can see immediately below.
Price $2,650
