This is a fascinating vintage Navajo bolo tie! It features a silver bolo with hand carved vertical grooves designs, black leather ties, and hand carved silver tips! Add it to your collection today! Made by Navajo artist no marks but tested as Sterling silver. The bolo measures around 2" x 1"⅜ Sturdy 40.5 grams The bolo tie is a classic western accessory, recognizable for its two decorative ends connected by a thin cord. It was created in the 1930s by Native American tribal silversmiths in Arizona and New Mexico.
Native American bolo ties were meant to be an alternative to the necktie, which was seen as too formal for the more relaxed lifestyle of the western states. History of Bolo Ties
Bolo ties originated in the 1930s, when Native American men from Zuni, Hopi, and Navajo tribes typically tied bandanas around their necks with string or shell-like structures. Their original version of this accessory was forged into what we now know as bolo ties.
The first Native American bolo ties were crafted from sterling silver and copper and featured sacred tribal symbols and markings. These handmade pieces were popular among ranchers and cowboys throughout the 1940s. As other Americans learned about this style, they began to copy it, eventually leading to its international popularity.
Victor Cedarstaff of Wickenburg, Arizona, is credited as the inventor and father of the iconic bolo tie. He officially filed a patent for his “Slide For a Necktie” back in May 1954, which was granted in July 1959. Despite his self-promotion and proclamation as the inventor, historians know that the bolo tie did not originate from Cedarstaff.
It’s worth noting that Cedarstaff was not the only one claiming to have been the inventor. Many others throughout history have also claimed to be the creator of the first bolo tie.