Zuni Museum Quality Rare Ralph Quam Chief's Head Bolo Channel Inlay Cedarstaff

Description

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I'm offering a rare and gorgeous large Comanche bolo of museum quality, which was made by Ralph Quam in his early years. A few people who lived in Zuni and knew the people involved have told me that Raymond Quam didn't do silver work and that he was incorrectly attributed with having made the Chief's Head jewelry. That misattribution was repeated in more than one publication. The actual artist for these was Ralph Quam. I've received this information from more than one source now and I believe it's important to correctly credit the artist. The face and channel inlay work on this bolo are great examples of Ralph Quam's early work. I've owned many of his chief's heads and this is not just his work but his top quality, best, work; it's very exceptionally elaborate and spectacular, with fabulous detailing and stones. There is some carved turquoise and the turquoise is all a rich deep Blue Gem, as well as more kinds of shell than usual, where the shells glow and are so reflective, so opalescent, so iridescent, you feel you could look at it forever. Of course, all the stones were hand cut and buffed and shaped for this piece. And the Chief's braid is unusual with the cloth portion on the hair  inlaid as a tiny separate area. There are so many kinds of shell and horn and they are hand buffed and shaped with great dimensionality, just gorgeous. This is a completely breathtaking piece of mosaic inlay work.
The carved stone, the three dimensional pieces, the elaborately complex detailing with so many different gorgeous, highly reflective stones and shells, the immaculate channel inlay work and stone work is very early Ralph Quam. This is a museum quality piece, a true masterpiece. It's fabulous work. There is some abalone combined with speckled brown shell, mother of pearl, another kind of brown shell, jet, mother of pearl, coral, horn and the face is made out of another natural material with a soft color, and there is deep rich Blue Gem Turquoise, one piece of which is hand carved. There is so much height, so much dimensionality to this work and and the inlay is complex and immaculate. So is the silver work which includes perfect raindrops a the end of each feather and at a few other points on the headdress, and coiled silver wire decorations that are stunning. This is mosaic inlay at its best because it is combined with so much detailed and complex work in an arresting combination of colors and textures. The face is beautiful (I love the faces that Ralph Quam uses -- it is his wife who makes them.). There may be some minimal stone loss and it looks like a few tiny hairlines might exist on one of the pieces of turquoise. It's in excellent vintage condition, however, and any issues with the stones are truly minimal and a function of the age of the piece.
An amazing feature of this bolo is that a Cedarstaff keeper was attached with one of the Cedarstaff special ties and tips. Cedarstaff was an important contributor to bolo history and it is very rare to find one of his keepers on a bolo by another artist. The tie is braided 8 ply leather (a thick leather tie indeed) with long Hopi tips on the end (bullet shaped tips) and silver spacers called ferrules. There are three silver ferrules on each side above the tips and also there is one sterling silver ferrule on each side where the braided leather converts to flat leather at the top. The flat leather was intended so that it would lie flat under collars.The Cedarstaff keeper is properly hallmarked with his stick figure inside a hexagon. It's possible that he collaborated with the Zuni artist to provide his keeper for the bolo. When he created these it was before the Bennetts, and probably this piece predates the Bennetts, predating 1957 when the Bennetts first started to be used. The flat portion of the leather was hard when I received it but I've been conditioning it and I think it will be fine for many many years. It is an older piece, of course but these ties can be replaced if necessary in the future. One of the tips has a slight bend to it; minimal. A jeweler could fix it if you wanted, but I personally wouldn't bother. The Cedarstaff keepers work like this: to move the leather ties up and down, move them toward the center. To lock the leather in place, move the leather toward the outside at the top and the keeper will secure it in place.
This piece comes from an old estate collection. The bolo isn't signed by the artist or for silver content but it's sterling silver and in those times pieces were rarely signed. The bolo measures 2-3/4"H   X  2"W, a very good size, and the entire piece weighs an unusually heavy 95.1 grams. The tips are 2-3/4" long, the tie with the tips measures about 40-1/2". This is a museum quality very rare piece and will be a proud addition to your collection.The quality of the inlay work and the stone combination is old and rare and the combination with Cedarstaff seems to be unique as well. I believe the two were combined because of the rare quality of this bolo, as a special commission.  It's a true masterpiece and would sell for many times this price at a gallery. Wearable art at its best!
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Returns will be accepted for 30 days after your receipt for any reason and without question. Please let me know if you would like to return something. Returns must be in the same condition they were shipped. If I make a significant mistake in a listing I'll always give you a full refund. The 20% restocking fee does not apply when the mistake is mine. I care that you're happy and about my accuracy, and will always stand behind my work. My attributions are guaranteed for my lifetime.
When I include pages from published books in my listings it is in accordance with Fair Use Law, which permits the use of source material for discussion, reference, education and criticism.
Attributions on many of the old pieces of Native American jewelry are sometimes a moving target. All the books have errors, so in addition to counterchecking, I have developed some expertise over the years and I do care about getting it right, so as more information comes to light I update my listings and also get in touch with my previous buyers, to inform them of any changes in attributions. I am sincerely committed to ongoing accuracy.
Everything I sell comes from my personal collection or is something that I would include in my personal collection. Most pieces are museum worthy and gallery suitable, sold to you at great pricing. I vet every item carefully for quality and condition, and offer you the best. I want you to be able to rely on me for top quality, superb items that are often unique and rare examples of old antique vintage southwest, indian, native american and fine gold and gemstones, whether you're starting a collection or adding to one, or want something great to wear or gift. My goal is that all my buyers are delighted, that my special pieces find the right homes.