Bracelet c. 1950

This Hopi bracelet, made of silver and turquoise, feels like a carefully constructed experiment. It’s modest in scale, yet ambitious in its exploration of colour and texture. The central turquoise stone, framed by delicate silverwork, immediately grabs your attention. I love the way the cool, calming blue-green hue plays against the muted silver. Notice how the artist has arranged three further vertically stacked stones on either side of the central piece, each subtly different in tone. The slight variations in colour and shape give the bracelet a sense of movement. Look closer at the silver. It seems to have been worked with a variety of tools and techniques. There are smooth, polished areas, as well as rougher, more textured surfaces. This contrast creates a tactile quality, inviting you to reach out and touch it. It reminds me that the act of making is an act of discovery, a conversation between the artist and their materials. This bracelet feels connected to the work of artists like Eva Hesse, who embraced the beauty of imperfection and the potential of unconventional materials. It reminds us that art is not about perfection, but about the ongoing exploration of ideas and possibilities.