Ketoh c. 1930

This Ketoh, a bow guard, was crafted from silver and turquoise by a Navajo artist. It’s not dated but, looking at it, you can sense an ongoing process of refinement and ingenuity. The silverwork has been meticulously shaped and burnished; a tactile experience of the metallic surface, cool to the touch, would reveal the care taken in its making. Notice how the central turquoise stone anchors the composition, its vibrant blue-green hue contrasting with the muted silver tones. The stone is smooth, polished and rounded; a pure color saturation, sitting on a bed of silver. The design, perhaps reminiscent of leaves or feathers, is repeated in the four quadrants. This symmetry creates balance and harmony. Art's like that, an evolving conversation across cultures, echoing the natural world with human ingenuity. It invites contemplation rather than a fixed, final meaning.