H. Fred Skaggs Sterling Silver Necklace

H. Fred Skaggs (? – 1983) was one of the most influential mid-century modern jewelers. Skaggs was a traditionally-trained jeweler who moved to Arizona in 1956 and became known for his modernist silver jewelry. Charles Loloma, the great Native American jeweler, credited Skaggs as his teacher and mentor. In 1966 Skaggs opened a shop at the Lloyd Kiva Craft Center in Scottsdale. This sterling silver necklace is a superb, and rare, example of his work. The centerpiece features a leaf-like, textured form outlined in swirling polished silver wire on a polished background; it is hinged in two places allowing it to conform to your neck and chest, and has a chain in back, allowing the length to be adjusted. One subtle, but delightful, detail is that the hinges on the back echo the swirling wire pattern on the front. To make it even better, it comes in its original Skaggs necklace folder. Scroll down for more details