Frank Patania Sr. Turquoise Butterfly Necklace

About the Piece: Frank Patania Sr. Turquoise Butterfly Necklace

Frank Patania Sr.'s necklaces are truly transformative when you put them on! This one is especially enchanting because it represents butterflies. The handmade necklace is created with five sterling silver open work pendants. Three of the pendants are decorated with cut-out butterfly designs of brilliant natural turquoise. Additional accents are handmade silver dot and dash beads. 

One of my cherished jewelry memories is when my beloved late mother, sister and I each modeled a different Frank Patania choker necklace. It was my mother's first time experiencing Frank Patania Sr.'s jewelry. I slipped his silver necklace around mom's little neck, and she immediately looked gorgeous! In fact, the minute Mom saw herself in that piece, something changed in her eyes immediately. She felt beautiful! And it was probably for the first time in a long while. That is the power of his jewelry! 

If you're not familiar with Patania, here's a little primer I wrote years ago:

Frank Patania Senior is best known for his acclaimed modernist jewelry of silver, turquoise and sometimes coral. His bold creations are most often offered alongside those of Native American artists, but he was not Native American. Native American jewelry, though,  influenced his life’s path from the 1920’s all the way until his death in 1964.

Born in Italy in 1899, Patania’s calling as a jeweler was determined from an early age. When he was only 6, he started apprenticing for an Italian goldsmith. By the age of 10, Patania had moved with his family to New York City. Eventually, nineteen year old Frank landed a job as a designer with the city’s largest jewelry factory, Goldsmith, Stern & Co. It was here that Patania honed his craft as a goldsmith until tuberculosis struck. An ailment that at first seemed to be misfortune actually changed the course of Frank Patania Sr.’s life. In 1924, Patania moved west to the high (and dry) desert of Santa Fe seeking healing from his serious illness.

In Santa Fe, Patania gained even more than a return to health. Thrilled and inspired by the silver and turquoise Native American jewelry that surrounded him, Patania began to experiment with a new medium and fresh techniques. Just three years after his move to Santa Fe, Patania opened the Thunderbird Shop right next to the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway ticket office. Location! Location! Location!

Jewelry that left the Thunderbird Shop quickly became known for its innovative style and expert craftsmanship. Patania employed talented Native artists like Julian Lovato and Lewis Lomay. Very quickly the amalgamation of Native American and Italian design, technique and materials sparked magic! Patania’s Italian wife, Aurora Masocco, managed the shop, including a mail order business, and even participated in some of the design work. Patania’s shop delighted customers like Mabel Dodge Luhan and Georgia O’Keefe. Ten years later, Patania’s success led him to open a second Tucson shop.  

Through his lifelong experience as an artist, Patania was uncompromising in his commitment to using the finest materials - he cut his teeth on gold and later moved to exceptional natural turquoise. Patania also imported exquisite natural Mediterranean coral for use in the Thunderbird Shop’s jewelry.

These days, it's difficult to keep Frank Patania's work in stock as collectors have caught on to his glorious designs which continue to appreciate in price.

This butterfly choker necklace of natural turquoise and sterling silver measures 17 1/2" long from end to end with a center pendant that measures 2 1/4" x 1 3/8". It is signed "FP". It has been in a private collection from the original date of purchase up until now.

You can see a video of this necklace here.

Summary: Frank Patania Senior Butterfly Choker Necklace of Turquoise

Item: Choker Necklace

Attribution: Frank Patania Sr.

Materials: Turquoise and Sterling Silver

Dimensions:  17 1/2" long from end to end with a center pendant that measures 2 1/4" x 1 3/8".

Signature: It is signed "FP"

Provenance: It has been in a private collection from the original date of purchase up until now.