Vintage Frank Patania Senior Round Turquoise Cluster Earrings

About the Piece: Frank Patania Sr. earrings that are round and domed sterling silver set with natural turquoise.

I'm always thrilled to be able to offer you jewelry by Frank Patania Sr. because, like these earrings, his pieces are a masterclass in expert design and technique.

You'll notice that his sterling silver earrings have big presence. Almost a modernist homage to the circle, Patania's earrings are designed with multiple renditions of the geometric form. The earrings are circular in shape, but they're also set with turquoise stones (7 per earring) that are round in shape. The setting itself is slightly domed, and even the sterling silver accent beads in two different sizes are round. Only the cut outs that seem to leave the turquoise clusters free floating are not round. It's a great contrast!

The elder Frank Patania was Sicilian rather than Native American, but his work certainly deserves a place next to Southwestern Native jewelry. If you're not familiar with Frank Patania's story, please take the time to read this short primer so you can better appreciate these earrings.

They measure 1 1/4" diameter. They're posts for pierced ears (converted from clips), and they're signed "FP" with Patania's Thunderbird Shop mark.

They've been in a private collection since their original purchase at the Santa Fe Thunderbird Shop decades ago.

You can see how elegantly Patania's earrings appear on the ears in this video.

Summary:

Item: Frank Patania Sr. earrings that are round and domed sterling silver set with natural turquoise

Attribution: Frank Patania Sr., Sicilian

Materials: Sterling silver and natural turquoise

Dimensions: 1/4" diameter

Signature: signed "FP" with Patania's Thunderbird Shop mark

Provenance: They've been in a private collection since their original purchase at the Santa Fe Thunderbird Shop decades ago