Navajo Indian Bolo Tie Kokopelli Overlay Sterling Silver Levi Damon

Navajo, Levi Damon, has handmade  a beautiful Kokopelli bolo tie of overlay sterling silver. He has added additional designs of a plant--which Kokopelli might be encouraging to be fertile!! The bolo tie is 1-3/8" in diameter. It is on black braids 34" long plus 1-5/8" sterling silver tips on each side.  Levi has stamped the back "Levi Damon - S/S".  This is a neat bolo tie that has matching rings, pendants, watches and earrings.  Check out our website for them!

The bolo, or bola, tie is so common in the west today that many people are surprised to find that it is relatively new. In the late 1940s, a silversmith named Victor Cedarstaff went riding with friends in the Bradshaw Mountains outside Wickenburg, Arizona. When the wind blew his hat off, Cedarstaff removed the hatband, which had a silver buckle he did not want to lose, and put it around his neck. When his friends complimented him on the new apparel, Cedarstaff returned home, and wove a cord. He added silver balls to the ends and ran it through a turquoise buckle. Cedarstaff later patented the new neckwear, which was called the bolo because it resembled the lengths of rope used by Argentine gauchos to catch game or cattle. Now mass-produced, and bolos are usually made of cord, with a silver or turquoise buckle. They are common throughout the west and are often worn for business. In 1971 Arizona legislature named the bolo the official state neckwear.

          Overlay is created by “sweating”, or soldering, two pieces of silver together.  The top piece contains a design element which is meticulously cut out of silver.  The bottom piece is oxidized and often textured to produce a contrasting background.  They then carefully file, buff and polish to produce the fine finish on their beautiful item.

THE KOKOPELLI STORY:  Known as the hump-backed flute player, images of Kokopelli can be found throughout the Southwest. Known as the “Casanova of the Cliffs”, he is known for his gift of fertility, good luck, and good health. Today he is known as a sign of prosperity and good fortune.

Item # BT-80

List price $125.00