An Early and Unusual Navajo Ketoh

Navajo

Last quarter 19th century | Silver, Commercial Hide | Item 2307

This is a rare and unusual Navajo silver ketoh or wrist guard on commercial hide. The design is centered with a green, turquoise stone bezeled in silver. From this center point radiates 8 projections like rays on a sun. Each projection is similar to the other, with punched marks moving up to its end. The end expands into the shape or a triangle. Each of the radial pieces is separate and is not attached to the bezeled stone. It is not clear how this is all connected, and in fact, it may not be other than to the hide. The back shows an added piece of circular hide that helps to receive the attachments for the radial arms. The ketoh is attached to the wrist by tieing a leather strap through the hide for closure.