the Sassy Raven Handcarved sterling silver Bracelet

 

Photo of The Sassy Raven handcarved sterling silver bracelet

The Sassy Raven handcarved sterling silver bracelet

This is version of Sassy Raven by Owen Walker is a little smaller than the transforming Raven.  This one is all Raven, he shows no human parts and is split so you see both halves of him on the bracelet.  This is a very common practice in North West Coast art, in order to decorate a round surface you split the animal, in this case Raven, from nose to tail or from tail to nose and wrap each half of it around the object, in our case a bracelet.  When most people see a bracelet designed this way their first thought is “two Ravens”, but in reality you are seeing both sides if a single raven at the same time!  Most bracelets are designed this way, although we do some where the animal is shown in profile and wraps all the way around the wrist.

photo of The Sassy Raven handcarved sterling silver bracelet 2

The Sassy Raven handcarved sterling silver bracelet 2

When I was a kid growing up in the bush I spent a lot of time with the ravens, and can tell lots of Raven stories, most from my own observations.  One thing about ravens is that they each have a personality, and sometimes you meet one that has had more experience with humans, or is just smarter than the average raven, and knows how to get people to do things.  This is one of those ravens!  Janet has given him the title “Sassy Raven” and he is!

 

Hand carved sterling Sassy Raven Bracelet by Owen Walker 1 inch wide

 

D 26 Price $500.00

photo of The Sassy Raven handcarved sterling silver bracelet 3

The Sassy Raven handcarved sterling silver bracelet 3

Adam Mills’ Howlin’ Wolf Tag

Photo of Adam Mill's Sterling Silver NW Style Wolf Tag

Adam’s Wolf Tag

Adam Mills has been hand engraving and learning from Master Engraver Owen Walker now for over a year and has come up with a wonderful line of NW Totem motif Sterling Silver Dog Tags. They’re fun to see and attractive especially for guys, but not only guys! This Wolf design is a good one and in fact is the one he wears. I find it interesting how people choose the totem figure that calls to them or they find especially appealing maybe matching their personality.

Wolves are known as the hunters or “spirit helpers” and they have strong supernatural powers. One of the most interesting aspects of the Wolf is the fact that they mate for life and have a deep sense of loyalty. This loyalty is manifested in their family to protect and teach their young. One big misconception is that of the “lone wolf.” To the contrary, the Wolf is actually a social creature, friendly, and gregarious with its counterparts and do not separate from their families in their natural environment.

We can’t ignore the communication skills of Wolves. By using touch, body movements, complex vocal expressions and intense eye contact the wolf gets his point across.  And it seems that those with the Wolf totem have the same inclinations of intelligence, cunning, ability to communicate, friendliness, and loyalty.  If you want to read Owen Walker’s experiences with Wolves check out this page Alpha Wolf Bracelet

Wearing Adam Mills’  Wolf Totem Tag and learning more about Wolves is a worthwhile goal in life. Personal engraving can be done on the back for an extra charge. Each Tag comes with 24″ .8MM Nickel plated Steel bead chain. All Tags are Sterling Silver.

$150.00 + Shipping & Handling

 

 

Sterling Silver Whale Bracelet

 

Photo of Sterling Silver Whale Bracelet

Sterling Silver Whale Bracelet

Whales, powerful hunters of the sea, were given much respect by native people. They were believed to have their own villages on the bottom of the sea. The Haida people believed that any Whales appearing in the sea in front of a village were drowned persons returning to communicate with them.  This design can be either an Orca with teeth or a large whale by hatching the mouth area to resemble baleen; it is also unusual in that the whale’s body is rearranged to fit the bracelet instead of following the natural arrangement of body parts.  This is called a distributive design and is quite common in Northwest designs.  Look at some of the old box designs and drum designs, it is often difficult to see what the animal is, because of the distributions of the design elements.

This whale is one of my old designs that has grown through many incarnations, growing and shrinking getting more and getting less complex.  It is not a very complex design, but must be spaced and carved with some precision or it loses its impact.  The most difficult bit for me is getting both the ovoids in the tail to match perfectly.  One of my favorites!

Photo of Sterling Silver Whale Bracelet

Sterling Silver Whale Bracelet

 

Hand-carved Sterling Silver Whale Bracelet by Owen Walker, 1 inch wide tapering to .6 inch.

D 25 price: $450.00

 

 

 

Big Grizzly Bear Bracelet

Photo of Large Sterling Silver Grizzly Bear Bracelet

Large Grizzly Bear Bracelet

Ancients of the Northwest Coast believed that some animals could supernaturally change their appearance and take on human form. Some humans could also transform into animals or mythic creatures when it was useful to do so. Bear moved back and forth from animal to human form, and as a result had characteristics of both. An ancient story tells of a woman who was carried off by Bears and was married to the Chief of the Bears. She gave birth to twin Bear Cubs who are considered to be the ancestors of Bear Clan People of the Tshimshian, Kwak’waka’ wak and Bella Coola.  Bear is a crest of the Raven clan, my son and I have worn this bear for many years.  It is a classic striking design, that will bring you many years of pleasure. This is a short synopsis of the story I will blog the longer version in the near future.  I also do this bear plain with no abalone, or with 14K red gold inlay in both eyes and hat segments, or abalone eyes and red gold hat.  I have done many many variation on this basic bear design.

photo of Large Sterling Silver Grizzly Bear Bracelet with Abalone shell inlay

Large Sterling Silver Grizzly Bear Bracelet with Abalone shell inlay

 

Hand-carved Sterling Silver Bear Bracelet by Owen Walker, 1.5 inch width tapering to .75 inch with Abalone inlaid eyes.

 

D20 $650.00

Photo of Sterling Silver Bear Bracelet

Sterling Silver Bear Bracelet

Small Bear

 Design #19 Little Bear Hand Carved Bracelet

Hand Carved Little Bear Design #19 by Owen Walker

This is another hand carved bear design by Owen Walker, and it occurs to me that I don’t know how many different bear designs I have produced, and I guess it doesn’t matter. When you live in South East Alaska (the Panhandle), bears are your neighbors even in the towns. They are every where! When bears are your neighbors you learn never to take them for granted, and never to think you know what they will do next. There is one certain thing about bears and that is their unpredictability!
Walker Goldsmiths designed this Bear Bracelet at the request of those wanting a bit smaller design to fit smaller wrists, yet have a large bear personality. The bear, both black and grizzly, are ancient family crests or totems, and respected by people all over the world. This one I think is playful and kind but strong and fierce when need be!

Design #19 Little Bear Bracelet

Owen Walker’s Hand Carved Bracelet, Little Bear #19

Hand-carved Sterling Silver Bear Bracelet by Owen Walker, 1.25 inch width tapering to .75 inch.

Abalone Inlay on Little Bear Bracelet

Little Bear Getting His Abalone Eyes

price: $450.00
Please email for payment options.

Dentalium is Everywhere

Picture of necklace TBA60A, made with Dentalium, Padres, Ivory and Abalone beadss

TBA60A, Dentalium, Padres, Ivory and Abalone beads

Dentalium is everywhere and yet, as a Trade Bead researcher and jewelry designer at Walker Goldsmiths, it’s been my experience to find that so few people even know what it is. Dentalium is a seashell harvested on the Pacific coast of western Washington and southern British Columbia in waters averaging 60 feet deep, it rarely washed up on shore and had to be deliberately removed from the sea floor with a broom-type tool.  It was traded everywhere. The standard was 6 foot strings strung end to end in a manner that they didn’t fit inside each other as the standard unit of trade.  Journals of early fur traders and ships logs mention fathoms of Dentalium – 6 feet long used as a standard for trading.  I’ve blogged about the tools used to recover the shells from the sea floor on this site.

Found from the Arctic to Mexico and from the west coast of North America to the Mississippi River, Dentalium was and still is used for adornment by people of those areas.  Historically it was used in every kind of jewelry and clothing decoration; it was THE thing! Peoples of the Northwest Pacific Coast would trade Dentalium into the Great Plains, Great Basin, Central Canada, Northern Plateau and Alaska for other items including many foods, decorative materials, dyes, hides, macaw feathers which came from Central America, turquoise from the American Southwest, as well as many other items. The most astounding thing to me is the incredible trade network, even prehistoric, that traded the Dentalium Shell all over the world.

Many of us have heard of wampum, even children, probably because of the historical part it played in our American history. But Dentalium is just as influential and I think the tradition is older and more historical and traded world wide than wampum.  Natives from a tribe thousands of miles away from the harvest beds would use strings of Dentalium as money.  Highest quality shells would be about 2.25″ long, and a dozen would typically be strung together, and a 27.5″ string of dentalia was the price of a redwood dugout canoe to some California tribes. Certain men, who became known as “Indian bankers,” tattooed marks on their arms with which to measure the length of the shells. (1) Among northern California tribes, such as the Yurok, Karuk, and Hupa, and Chumash, dentalium shells were stored in elk-antler purses or treasure baskets.Owen and I saw one of these sweet little Dentalium “purses” in a museum at Cannon Beach, OR that was very beautiful and functional.  These purses are a pretty standard artifact for the coast and plateau tribes.  They are a large chunk Elk antler decorated with carvings, hollowed out and plugged on both ends with a slit in the side for inserting and saving dentalium for future use.

photo of Wishram woman by Edward S. Curtis

I’ve found that the The Modoc Indians on the high Sierras traded and intermarried with the Klamath and the Hupa and that gave them access to the sea and the coastal trade routes with the Wishram, Siletz, Chinook and the Chumash to the south who all desired these shells harvested by the Nuu-chah-nult natives on the NW of Vancouver Is, Canada. My point here is that everywhere Walker Goldsmiths has searched, Dentalium is the most prolific trade bead item I’ve seen.  Necklace TBA60A, made with Dentalium Shell, Padre, Ivory and Abalone beads.      

Cost;  $250.  Made by Janet Walker

 

(1) Dubin, 436,437

 

Northwest Style Hand Carved Thunderbird Tag

Photo of Sterling Silver Hand Engraved Thunderbird Tag

Sterling Silver Hand Engraved Thunderbird Tag

Awesome Thunderbird!

This is the first of the new hand engraved tags being carved by Adam Mills in Sterling Silver at Walker Goldsmiths. The Tag features a Thunderbird.  Adam has been learning and working at hand engraving with the assistance of Owen Walker, Master Engraver,  for over a year. This tag is the first in a line of 10 NW motifs by Adam that will be featured on Walker Goldsmiths webpage.

What is a Thunderbird? There are many wonderful tales in the legends of Thunderbird. They are an explanation of the wild and violent energies in nature like those found in violent thunderstorms. The Makah on the NW Washington coast tell of Tunderbird moving her wings in huge violent beats upon the sea to create the mighty waves and the sound of this action was the thunder. The Thunderbird had her nest, naturally, high up in the Olympic Mountains on Hurricane Ridge. To feed her babies she would swoop down to the Straits of Juan de Fuca and grasp whales in her talons to drag up from the sea to her nest.

Thunder Beings, essentially an attempt to represent the patterns of activity of a powerful, mysterious force in a way that can be understood simply and easily are mythical creatures believed to also have been birds that transformed into people and lived as people.  Legendary Thunderbirds folded their feathers behind them as a cape and removed their beaks while marrying and living as humans. When other tribes tried to capture them they revealed themselves and their true power destroying those whom sought to capture or enslave them. Thunderbird is one of the highest ranking creatures usually seen on a crest of a powerful Chief.

These Thunderbird Dog Tags are 2 inches in length and 1 inch wide Sterling Silver. Tags come with a strong 24″ .8MM nickel plated bead chain.  Personal engraving can be done on the back for an extra charge.

Denis and Laurie’s Two Paths Wedding Rings

Photo of 14kt Gold Two Paths Wedding Rings

Two Paths Wedding Rings

Walker Goldsmiths were privileged a couple of weeks ago to be involved with making Custom Wedding Rings for a couple of special people. It was very much fun! They came to us highly recommended by a dear friend and mother of the groom. They had found on the internet a ring design that they thought would work and we started from there. I always want to know what everyday work they each do to ensure that the ring design is “workable” and comfortable in their daily lives. Some jobs are just not conducive to masses of highly elevated and crown set diamonds or stones that are basically too soft or brittle for everyday wear. It’s our job to educate our customers so they can be 100% happy with their choice.

Wax Carving of Two Paths Wedding Ring

Wax Carving of Two Paths Wedding Ring

The ring design that they liked they found on the internet and it was pretty close to very good, it just needed some special touches that would make it more wearable. We specialize in the rounded squared bottom shank that creates a weight/balance to the top design. I truly hate it whenever a ring turns on my finger and pokes me between my fingers, so we have answered the problem with the counter weight shank-back. So, of course I just love all the rings we make! The top of the ring also needed a more rounded structure compared to the initial design that they found because these kids are active hard working folks. The adjustments we made created a functional, substantial, comfortable, easy wear wedding ring. I carved a wax of the design making all the better changes to the initial design then called them to come and approve the wax. At this point we were able to finalize and see if we were truly communicating! And we were!  The rings, being wax were molded and kiln fired to remove the wax from the mold, as this is the “lost wax” process.  The rings were then cast in 14kt yellow gold by Owen and finished to a high polish.

The Two Paths Wedding Rings – we all cross paths in life all the time, what’s rare and amazing is that two paths can cross and then join to become one! Another sweet aspect of this tale is that Denis is a truck driver and Laurie works here and there all over Whatcom County, her long time home.

Now the really fun thing about all this wedding ring stuff is that these kids planned and accomplished an elopement! It’s so very romantic! Walker Goldsmiths were privy, somewhat, to the secret and had to scurry to get them made in time and we loved every minute of it. Both came with family gold to be melted and incorporated in the rings, so here again is the concept of the paths of ancestors going on in the lives of these two path finders.

Walker Goldsmiths Booth at the 2012 Seattle Gift Show

Photo of Walker Goldsmiths Booth 2012 Seattle Gift Show

Walker Goldsmiths Booth 2012 Seattle Gift Show

Walker Goldsmiths did the Seattle Gift Show again this year and it’s been fun to see lots of old friends from AK and the lower 48.  We definitely noticed that the buying was slower and more cautious in volume and that folks are totally sick of having to be this way because of the slow $.  I think people who are in the retail market love the challenge and adventure of selling and providing what the customer wants.  I’m sure that there are all kinds of studies done on the psychology of it all.  We like being the provider of goods to these retail people and we too enjoy the adventure and challenge. There are always folks looking for new products not made in Bali or China and that’s where we shine.  All of our jewelry is made by hand by us in our studio in the USA!  We had Adam Mill’s new line of Sterling TAGS that were well accepted, and the bronze tiles and sculptures were items of interest and sold pretty well too. Of course we had a huge selection as always of Owen Walker’s Hand Carved Sterling Bracelets with and without abalone inlays, hand carved Earrings and Pendants, Janet’s lost wax cast Rings, our Potlatch Collection of cast Earrings and Pendants and Janet’s Trade Bead Collection.  Owen also sets up a mini engraving demonstration to show folks just how he works his magic.

Photo of Owen Walker and customer at the Seattle Gift Show

Owen Walker with customer at the Seattle Gift Show 2012

The crazy weather kept a noticeable amount of people away.  Television weather people were telling everyone to “stay home if you don’t actually have to go out”, so some did. More old customers than new showed up, those Alaskans are a hardy bunch. We did pick up a new customer that bought a substantial amount of jewelry and they are located in WA.  There’s every indication that there will be repeat purchases from this new account.  Each product that Walker Goldsmiths had for sale takes a special customer; relatively high end northwest native style jewelry and/or a market for bronze sculpture.  Both categories sold somewhat, so all in all it has been a slow show, but not a bad show!

How Raven Brought Light to the World

Long, long time ago when the world was new and all was twilight and the powers were new and fresh, Raven was exploring the new world.  He flew and hopped and walked all around touching the trees and rocks learning all he could from each of them.  One day he saw a beautiful young woman come down to a clear stream to drink, he was captivated by her so he followed when she walked back to her home.  He perched up by the smoke hole so he could watch and not be seen.  Inside the house were the beautiful young woman and an old man, and many cedar boxes full of treasures.

Raven is by nature curious, gluttonous, and possessive, he wants to take and keep every pretty thing he sees, and if it is tasty he wants to eat all of it.  He hatched a plan to get into the house and see what was in all those big boxes, he waited by the stream for the young woman to fetch water again.  While he waited he preened his beautiful white feathers and admired himself in the stream.  When the young woman came to get water again he waited until she was about to drink, then he flew up behind her and transformed himself into a spruce needle and fell into her cup and she swallowed him!

photo of Raven and the sun handcarved Earrings

Raven and the Sun handcarved Earrings

As time passed the young woman became pregnant then gave birth to a peculiar little boy with a very large nose.  The boy grew rapidly and was soon walking around the house getting into every thing.  He was, of course, Raven.  He became his Grandfathers pride and joy.  Grandfather could not deny him any plaything partly from love and partly because he had the most annoying cry of any baby ever heard before or since on the earth.  His Grandfather was cleaning and dusting the boxes that held his treasures, and the top of the biggest and most beautifully carved and painted box was opened for just a second and the house was filled with brilliant light.  Raven began to cry for the brilliant light, but Grandfather said “No!”, so Raven cried and cried.  His cries were so annoying that finally Grandfather relented and opened the box and let him see the great ball of brilliant light that resided in the beautiful box.

Photo of Raven and the Sun handcarved Pendant

Raven and the Sun handcarved Pendant

Raven allowed himself to be satisfied with just looking at the beautiful light this time.  Soon he was pointing at the box and crying to get Grandfather to let him see the light again.  Grandfather did not want this baby to play with his precious light so he held out as long as was possible with such a piercing and grating cry going on.  Finally to gain a little peace he opened the box again and let Raven touch the great ball of light.  Grandfather was watching carefully as Raven stroked and cooed over the light.

Photo of Hand carved Bracelet Raven Transforming

Hand carved Bracelet Raven Transforming

The next day and the next it was the same, Raven could only be shut up by letting him play with the great ball of brilliant light.  It soon became routine, Raven would cry and point at the box, Grandfather would open the box and take out the light and Raven would play happily with the light for a long while.  One day soon thereafter Raven became fussy and kept the whole house awake most of the night.  Next day everyone was cranky and wanted to take a nap, so Grandfather took out the light and gave it to raven to play with so they could get some needed rest.  As soon as everyone’s attention was elsewhere, Raven transformed himself back to his Raven form, grabbed the ball of light in his beak and flew out the smoke hole of the house.  Several things happened all at once.  Grandfather woke with a roar revealing himself to be the creator of the earth.  Raven in his haste had forgotten the large fire burning in the hearth and had not understood that the great ball of light was only cool enough to handle while in the Creator’s house, so as he passed out of the smoke hole he was covered with soot and smoke, then the great ball of brilliant light began to get hot!  Raven flew as high and as far as he could until the heat became unbearable, then he threw the ball as hard as he could.  The ball broke into two large pieces and many many tiny chips.  The largest piece became the sun the other large piece is the moon and the tiny chips are the stars.  Raven was burned so badly that he remains black to this very day!

As you can see Walker Goldsmiths has many depictions of Raven available.

Photo of Cast Raven and Sun Ring

Cast Raven and Sun Ring