Vintage Sterling SIlver Hopi Overlay Bracelet of Salako Mana and Taka

Sometimes pieces make their way back after many years. Such is the case with this very cool silver Hopi overlay cuff of two detailed figures -  Salako Taka and Salako Mana that boldly stand head to head and wrap around the bracelet. 

Salako Taka is a cloud man and Salako Mana is a cloud maiden. They appear together at Hopi dances and are very similar except for a few subtle distinctions. They both wear a large tableta with elements representing rainbows, clouds and lightning. Their mouths are large inverted "U's" symbolizing rainbows and their cheeks have a horizontal "V" design representing rains. They always wear a pair of turquoise mosaic inlay tab earrings. The lower part of their dress is comprised of downward pointing feathers. 

It's amazing because this bracelet depicts these similar characteristics between cloud man and cloud maiden in great detail. The bracelet even depicts the subtle distinctions. If you look closely, you'll see that the Salako Taka on the bracelet has shorter moccasins (which would typically be red and blue) and a much more detailed embroidered kilt over his shoulders where Salako Mana wears traditional women's moccasins and a plainer (white) shirt that would have a red and black border. Can you believe the jeweler added all these details to this cuff!

Interestingly, Salako Taka and Salako Mana are not frequently carved. It may be because they're considered leaders of the cloud people and more like deities rather than katsinas. Some carvers might believe that it's taboo to carve ceremonial figures of such significance. Others might carve them but not sign their name.

Many years ago, when I worked with Martha Struever, this cuff originally presented itself to her, and she was delighted as she loved all things Hopi. She quickly sold it to a woman who mostly collected Hopi pottery but was enchanted by this particular depiction of a Salako Mana and Salako Taka on a bracelet. Now this wonderful and unusual bracelet has returned for me to sell once again. It's like seeing an old friend!

Besides its rare standout design, the striking cuff is unique for two other reasons. It's stamped with both "sterling" and ".925". Most often, with Native American jewelry, you see only the sterling hallmark although it's not unheard of for contemporary Native jewelers to mark with .925. It's uncommon to find both. Also uncommon is the fact that the cuff is unsigned, however, Martha Struever believed that this may have been on purpose due to the jeweler's depiction this specific Salako Mana and Salako Taka subject matter. 

Whatever the case may be, this bracelet is special - because of its grand design and also, of course, because it was loved by Marti.

The cuff measures 5 3/4" inside plus 1" opening. The width is 1".