After Legacy Gallery owner Brad Richardson acquired Manitou Galleries in 2021, there was some immediate speculation about what would happen to the gallery’s jewelry department, Palace Jewelers, and the many jewelers who were represented at a key location a short distance from the Santa Fe Plaza.
Jennifer Curtis (Navajo (Diné)), 41.26cts Bisbee turquoise on silver stamped buckle
Two years on, it’s safe to say that jewelry is very much alive and well at Palace Jewelers, although there certainly has been some welcome changes, including a gallery redesign, new jewelry cases and a dedicated space just for jewelry on the gallery’s ground floor. Another addition is the inclusion of live auctions, the second of which will take place from November 20 to December 2. The Second Annual Palace Jewelers Auction will feature as many as 250 jewelry pieces, all of them available to online bidders through Invaluable, LiveAuctioneers and iCollector.
Norbert Peshlakai (Navajo (Diné)), sterling silver and red coral stamped cuff bracelet
Don Supplee (Hopi), silver, turquoise and petrified agate bracelet
“The items being offered are going to be all the way across the board, from traditional to contemporary, and really great examples from many of the top artists,” says Tsali Hall (Diné), the director at Palace Jewelers. The auction will be held live online, and then the gallery will make available all of the jewelry for anyone who wants to preview it and even try it on to check sizing. “We’ve made some really great tweaks to the formula this year, including a lot of things on the bidding side so collectors will have the best opportunities to place bids.”
Tsali Hall (Navajo (Diné)), director of Palace Jewelers.
Artists in the sale include Vernon Haskie, Robert Begay, Kenneth Johnson, Wes Willie, Darryl Dean Begay, Albert Lee, Arland Ben and many others. That is a stacked list of names that is joining an already impressive roster that already has work in the gallery: Norbert Peshlakai, Jennifer Curtis, B. Tom, Don Supplee and many others.
Robert Begay (Navajo (Diné)), Buckle with bull and building scenery with Lone Mountain turquoise
For Hall, he couldn’t ask for a better roster of jewelers. “These are some of the best,” he says. Hall has been in the art world since 2002 and he has largely taught himself about jewelry and stones. “It took some time, but before long I understood about design concepts, the quality of stones and materials, and what kinds of pieces were most collectible.”
Kenneth Johnson (Muscogee/Seminole), 18k yellow gold stamped bracelet Estimate: $6/9,000
Hall grew up in Gallup, New Mexico, which he calls the mecca of Native American jewelry. “Being Navajo, I grew up around a lot of artists or their family members. I went to school with several artists as well, so I’ve been around and met a lot of people over the years,” he says, adding that being Navajo and having those connections to the cultural legacy of jewelry has allowed him to communicate better with the artists and also keep collectors more informed. Hall, who has been with Manitou since 2018, is also quite fashionable, a point that he chuckles at softly when asked about. He frequently wears a very stylish hat, including custom designs by top hatmakers, and his jewelry is always exceptional, with rings, bolos and necklaces that reveal his own impeccable taste for Native American jewelry. “I’m always trying to look my best,” he says. “One thing I’ve noticed is that the more into jewelry you get, the more selective you are about certain designs or colors.”
Robert Begay (Navajo (Diné)), Sterling silver and Kingman turquoise tufa-cast roping cowboy cuff bracelet Estimate: $1,500/2,500
Vernon Haskie (Navajo (Diné)), Sterling silver and Ithaca Peak turquoise silver cut-out cuff bracelet Estimate: $2/4,000
Hall’s wife is Cyndi Hall, the associate director at Manitou Galleries. They share a commute to work, and all that separates their offices is a set of stairs. The Halls are both fierce advocates for not only fine art of the Southwest, but also Native American jewelry. When it comes to tips about collecting jewelry, Hall offers this advice: “Really focus on quality within your budget. Whether your budget is $500 or $5,000, always seek out the best artists, the best materials and the best designs,” he says. “As far as trends in the world of jewelry, we are seeing a lot of artists move away from more traditional jewelry. They are still making pieces that are traditionally inspired, but they are putting little twists on them to make them unique and contemporary. And we’re seeing collectors follow that trend because people generally want something a little bit different. They want those new designs or new colors. One area we’re seeing a lot of growth in is some of the stones. Of course, turquoise and gold always do well, but people also ask about diamonds and sapphires and opals. And the artists are using those materials more.”
B Tom (Navajo (Diné)), Multi-stone inlay cuff bracelet
Hall also encourages collectors to ask lots of questions to demystify the world of jewelry. “I have answers,” he adds.
November 20-December 2, 2023
Second Annual Palace Jewelers Auction
Palace Jewelers in Manitou Galleries 123 W. Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (505) 984-9859, www.manitougalleries.com
Powered by Froala Editor
