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 Round CombsThe silver Choctaw women's comb, or "issep isht elpi" is part of the traditional dance regalia. It is typically worn just behind the crown of the head. Our comb, made to specifications originally for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, features stickball (the kebutsha game), diamondback (from the rattlesnake), and other patterns in repousse for added strength. Other patterns and matching men's hatbands are available and new ones are being developed. For the purposes of Native American powwow dancing, where regalia is not allowed to fall off, we have made the teeth wavy so it will "lock" into the hair. The comb measures about 2 inches tall, one inch being the decorative back, the other the teeth, by eleven inches long. These combs are made primarily for dance purposes but would be equally suited for Indian bridal wear; consider it as a replacement for the wedding tiara worn by the bride along with a matching silver hatband for the groom. If you need matching silver earrings, bracelets, necklaces, or finger rings, please do not hesitate to contact us; custom designs are our specialty and are invited. Scroll down to see our other traditional regalia pieces, the dance bells, and brooches.
Dance or Mother-in-law BellsThere were two forms of this multifunctional bell. The older is the circular one made originally from old silver quarters with a hole punched, not drilled, through the top for a wire that holds both the clapper and the attachment loop (on opposite ends). It almost never had any stamped decorations. The square bell came later as sheet metal entered as a trade item. I think the first of these came about 1890. At first they were not mother-in-law bells (either model) but silver copies of the bells found on more ornate Mexican saddles and were worn by both men and women in dances. The square model seems to have reached its peak of development after WWI, but pretty much vanished after WWII. Some of the old ones show up in museums, mostly out west. But all too often that wire with the clapper and loop broke or pulled out, the whole thing came apart, and after a few decades nobody knew what it was. It has been a few years since I've made one of the plainer ones. Its use as a mother-in-law bell comes from a matriarchal culture, usually matrilocal as well, and a lot of taboos surround keeping the in-laws from having any confrontations - in short, it's bad luck for the son-in-law and his mother-in-law to meet eyes. Such are the Navajo and Hopis. The bell, his gift to her at the wedding, was to be his signal she was coming and leave himself.
Turquoise and SilverSkystone and silver are a wonderful combination. Some years back we made traditional western style sterling silver jewelry, most of which was sold at pow-wows west of the Mississippi River by vendors such as Sharon Lonewolf and others. Stamping, chisel work, and overlay were the major techniques used. Almost everything was fabricated from sheet and wire; very little was ever cast. Turquoise was the stone we used in largest quantity, although garnets, coral, charoite, and other cabochon gems were used. Recently, we have returned to making some of those beloved pieces; below are a few of our current offerings. Should you wish custom pieces, please contact us directly.
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