At a Glance:

Design: Native American sterling silver Thunderbird sampler earrings with domed concho tops, two-part construction, and two distinct hand-stamped & chased drops
Metal: .925 sterling silver
Artist: Signed VJP | Vincent Joe Platero Sr., Navajo silversmith
Era: Contemporary — late 20th to early 21st century
Status: Signed Navajo silver earrings with distinct sampler-format Thunderbird designs
Condition: Fine — see SCJ Vintage Condition Guide

Specifications:

• Wear scale: lightweight, easy-moving, with noticeable graphic presence
• Total length: 2"
• Width: 1" 
• Closure: posts with clutch disc backs

• Weight: approx. 4.5 grams each

Gallery Note:

These signed Thunderbird earrings by Vincent Joe Platero Sr. center on one of the most enduring motifs in Southwestern silverwork. Platero gives the form a strong graphic read through silhouette, spacing, hand-cut stampwork, chasing, and oxidized recesses rather than stone or added ornament.

The pair has unusual collector interest because the Thunderbird drops are not identical. One is organized around a diamond-and-star center with sharper geometric structure, while the other opens from a sunburst motif with a more spacious radial layout. Together, they read as a compact sampler of Platero’s stampwork vocabulary, with each earring carrying its own handmade character.

The domed concho tops repeat the radiating language below, tying the upper and lower elements together with clarity. At 2" long and approx. 4.5 grams each, the earrings have enough presence to register clearly on the ear while remaining light, comfortable, and easy to wear.

Hallmark & Maker Notes:

The VJP hallmark is registered to Vincent Joe Platero Sr., a Navajo silversmith born in 1957 in Tohajiilee, New Mexico, and associated with the Edgewater and Black Streak Clans. Platero learned silversmithing from his mother, Helen Chavez, and is known for deep hand-cut stampwork, including the demanding practice of fabricating his own stamps.

His jewelry has received recognition at the New Mexico State Fair and the Denver Indian Market and has been carried by galleries across the country. This signed pair reflects the graphic clarity, visible handwork, and strong maker identity collectors look for in Platero silver.

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