Odd sterling item, need help identifiying

[Jayers]

Even my jeweler didn't know what this was. Its about 2.5 inches long, pretty thin, and looks like a coral stone. It has a native American or Mexican feel to it but the hallmark doesn't match anything I see in the Mexican area. And just what is this thing? It's not marked but I'm pretty sure, given where I got and how, it's sterling.

 

[jason4kstate]

Wow this is an odd one. The stone is red coral. Probably an unknown rain cloud Zuni shop pictograph hallmark. I was going to say its a money clip but there is no clip. Maybe a handkerchief holder?

 

[cheech]

It might be a decorative piece for a belt

 

[JimDon]

I'm with cheech, belt decoration.

 

[Baltimore]

I was thinking some kind of hair piece, but it seems like it'd be annoying to have to slide it on, especially if your hair is very long.

 

[buzzhead]

I've seen those sqwiggely lines somewhere before.. Reminiscent of pottery markings to me.

 

[buzzhead]

After seeing the post above about a kerchief holder I agree that's what it looked like.

 

[DCMetal]

That piece was made by Lawrence G. Golsh of the Pala Band Cherokee. One of his pieces is in the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

While it's not old, I think the significance is a BANNER find! Nice job and hopefully a big surprise.

 

[Jayers]

That piece was made by Lawrence G. Golsh of the Pala Band Cherokee. One of his pieces is in the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.

While it's not old, I think the significance is a BANNER find! Nice job and hopefully a big surprise.

Thank you so much! I don't know if I would have ever found that mark. I would have (and WAS) been searching under "L" all day. I'll keep you posted as to how it goes. I'm probably putting it up on ebay for a high OBO listing and see what happens.