Turquoise

By Joe Dan Lowry

Turquoise has been mined on six continents and traded by cultures throughout the world's history, including the Europeans, Chinese, Mayan, Aztec, Inca, and Southwest Native Americans. It has been set in silver and gold jewelry, cut and shaped into fetish animals, and even formed to represent gods in many religions. This gemstone is displayed in museums around the world, representing the arts and traditions of prehistoric, historic, and modern societies. Turquoise focuses on the latest information in science and art from the greatest turquoise collections around the globe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith
• Release date: Oct 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781423619802

Joe Dan Lowry

Joe Dan Lowry is world-renowned for his knowledge about turquoise and is sought after for appraisals, interviews, and lectures. He owns turquoise mines, is a skilled lapidary, and is co-author of the book Turquoise Unearthed. He developed and is curator of the Turquoise Museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he lives.

Book preview

Bibliography

Preface

This book captures the romance and insightful history of the world’s most colorful gemstone. Informative and interesting stories and vivid photography are combined to take the reader on a journey that will answer most turquoise-related questions. Turquoise mines from around the world are represented, along with artifacts, art, and memorabilia that showcase this gem’s splendor.

For thousands of years, turquoise has been described by its admirers as robin’s egg blue, Persian blue, sky stone, and earth’s stone. Spiderweb, eggshell, water web, and picture rock are descriptive phrases referring to each stone’s distinctive matrix patterns. Cultural uses and appreciation of grades and rarities evoke a variety of opinions about this gem’s mystical and monetary values. Wow, fascinating, and amazing have described art, carvings, and objects adorned or made with turquoise. Passionate, eccentric, and vibrant characterize the avid artists or collectors who search out turquoise gems from around the world. So, whether you love turquoise or are just starting to learn about it, we hope this book will fascinate you with its intriguing tales, colorful pictures, and fact-filled pages.

Sleeping Beauty turquoise nuggets. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Acknowledgments

This book would be impossible to complete without the foresight and turquoise collection of Jesse Cordel Zachary Jr. and his wife, Lillian. The Turquoise Museum was established with their collection in 1993. Our dad began cutting turquoise when he was nine years old, and as he got older, he would always tell as many people as would listen that someday many of the American turquoise mines would stop producing this gemstone, which would then become rare and collectible. Today, Dad’s collection has samples from over one hundred and twenty turquoise mines from around the world, many of which no longer produce turquoise. He spent his lifetime collecting turquoise, traveling the world, talking to miners, and educating others about the gemstone. He loved many things: his wife, his kids, playing with kids, playing music, fishing, turquoise, and people. He was passionate about them all and wove his hospitality and wonderful sense of humor around them.

There was always another stone, a new mine, and Dad’s outlook on life was to look at a stranger coming down the pathway of life and hope that it was a new friend. That person might know something that Dad didn’t and might have something he had never seen. Isn’t that why we awake each day—to see, to learn, to live? Turquoise is life expressed in color, story, history, art, and especially in each individual person’s opinions and tastes. Our family has been involved in turquoise for five generations, and as our collections have increased, we have discovered that there is always more to learn and more to see. Our hope is that many books will be written about this gemstone and how it has touched the world’s many cultures. Turquoise is about so much more than just the color of a blue or green stone set in a piece of jewelry.

We would like to thank those who have helped with their support and knowledge for this book project. As everyone knows, there are no experts in this industry, but there are a collection of wonderful people who provide prisms to look into each aspect of the turquoise world. One person may have a picture no one has seen, another a story never shared, another might have an opinion that is all their own, and then there are those who have scientific or historic knowledge from institutions around the world that tell the story of turquoise. There are many friends, miners, lapidaries, scientists, museums, and—yes—a few con artists who have all been a great help in getting this book published.

Persian and Altar turquoise. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Introduction

Color is defined as the refracting and revealing of light within the molecule. Such a technical definition seems like a sterile description of such an intriguing phenomenon. Colors stir our imaginations, are continually expressed in our words, and are used in the many arts to capture and preserve our feelings and memories of what we saw. Color is a language of beauty understood by every culture and is defined by words in every language. Each time we open our eyes, we see color schemes that are illustrated by every ray of light. Colors can be dull or vibrant, light or dark, or a variety of hues; everything can be defined by a color. Color can be single, a kaleidoscope of colors, matched, or clashing. Color is not limited by geography, language, or philosophy. It can be bottled but not contained; it can be sold but will never run out. It is everywhere, yet rare. And it is appreciated above many other treasures.

Nature is our first canvas because it forever paints beautiful and limitless pictures in our minds. The blues of the sky, the greens of the vegetation of the earth, and the vivid color of all of the animal kingdom are just the beginning of our introduction to color. Do you remember your first sunset, or maybe the vase of wildflowers in your grandmother’s kitchen, or a bluebird as it flew upward through the white clouds above, or the warm sun as it shone in the distance and reflected the rainbow of colors between the valley basin and the dark storm clouds? Mankind’s fascination with color has continued to develop within numerous cultures around the world. People’s personalities have also been defined by color. Have you ever felt blue or met a shady character?

A variety of turquoise cabochons from various mines around the world. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

There are three primary colors in the color wheel: red, yellow, and blue. The secondary colors in the wheel are green, orange, and violet. The available variety obtained from mixing and matching these six colors is what makes every blink of the eye timeless.

Generally when we see color, we can see multiple colors with different richness such as a unique sunset, which is not just one color of red or orange. Or we can see one color at a time such as a solid green dress. Color speaks within our imaginations, asking what colors are the fish and the sea life in the ocean’s depths. Our minds record color when we see a beautiful woman and gaze into striking turquoise blue eyes. We can stand in the crowd watching as the Mexican fiesta dancers twirl their colorful dresses to the Latin music.

We look at the photograph of the Tibetan woman high in the Himalayas, walking up the village’s path in her traditional outfit. A gift shop has a special piece of jewelry that is set with a most intriguing stone. Colors that are painted on canvas can interpret the artist’s vision of life, or a photograph can forever hold and frame an exact image in time. We can stroll along the Isle of Capri and see the deep blue Mediterranean Sea turn to turquoise as it reaches the shallows around the island. Seeing the wind move the trees or noticing a lizard in the middle of the trail will let you know that you are observing some of God’s creations in a rare moment that you will remember and treasure all of your life. When we are spoken to, we hear in color; when we are read to, we imagine the colors that the author is suggesting. It does not matter what language you speak or what nationality you are, one of the constants in our world is color.

Isle of Capri, Turquoise Sea. Photo by Katy Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Wes Willie, Navajo artist—original 14kt gold bracelet showcasing Lone Mountain turquoise and drilled fossil beads. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Iranian hand-cut Sleeping Beauty turquoise beads, Morenci turquoise cabochon, and Iranian-made sterling silver rings set with Persian turquoise. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Wes Willie, Navajo artist—original 14kt gold necklace showcasing Lone Mountain turquoise and drilled fossil beads. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Ralph Lauren’s Pure Turquoise perfume. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Gibbs Smith.

Luke Billy Yazzie, Navajo artist—14kt gold ring (set with Kingman turquoise) and pendant (set with Blue Gem turquoise). Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Dennis Edaaki, Zuni artist—14kt gold bolo tie. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Sun rays in the Arizona sky. Photo by Joe Dan Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Virginia Chinana, Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico (2007). Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Sherman. Many dogs have been known to collect rocks. John Huntress’s dog is the first known rock hound of turquoise (2008). Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Anne Flythe with her new friend. Photo by Jamie Flythe; courtesy of Abby Flythe.

Colors in Architecture and Art

The color turquoise has been used in architecture and ornamentation throughout history. For example, when bricks were invented for building materials, a glaze was added to the backed earthenware to add hardness to the surface and color for beauty. Faience was a particular glazed earthenware that was made and used in Babylon, Egypt, and elsewhere. It was given an opaque glazed finish that included a variety of blue colors. Later, the same faience methods were used to create beads in various shapes that were fashioned, drilled, and strung for personal adornment. The invention of glass from sand (silica), lime, and soda developed another new type of ware and personal adornment. Colored glass was in great demand, and turquoise blue colors were some of the colors used. Glass has been used for its own beauty and as a substitute for many of the colored gemstones in ancient days as well as in modern times.

Trade routes became important pathways for cultures to exchange items and become more interrelated. The British Museum displays a colored-glass necklace that was traded from China through Siberia to the Hokkaido Ainu culture of Japan. This was a very long way to travel; it went through several cultures, but it was a very beautiful addition to the final purchaser. In the other exhibit, a small handful of beads are displayed that were found in an early predynastic Badarian burial site in Upper Egypt, dated to the fifth millennium BC. They are roughly shaped beads of carnelian, agate, serpentine, and one bead of turquoise. In modern times, the art of the famous Murano glass and glassblowers in Venice, Italy, and the glass bead makers of Czechoslovakia are still sought and traded around the world.

Allison Lee, Navajo artist—14kt gold squash blossom set with turquoise and exhibiting black web, from the Number Eight mine. Modeled by Cassidy Zachary. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Words

Many times throughout history, certain words gain a definition that is multiple in applications but specific by definition. Fruit, flower, and wood are just a few of these words that can have different grades, styles, and kinds. What kind of fruit: banana, apple, or pineapple? What variety of flower: rose, lily, or carnation? What form of wood: oak, pine, walnut, or cherry? Red, yellow, pink, and many other colors are wonderful, but only one color is universal, and it is one of the most famous colors in the world, synonymous with what many consider to be one of the most historic and storied gemstones in the world—turquoise. This one word defines a color and a gemstone. The extraordinary part is that neither the color nor the gemstone is limited to one specific definition of color. The American Heritage Dictionary names the color of turquoise as greenish blue. The mineral turquoise actually parallels color itself and has many hues. This mineral has been mined in blues, greens, and whites. It has different depths and brilliances as well as uses and auras of mysticism. Whether dark, light, with clarity, or framed within the host rock of matrix, turquoise is not a gemstone that is easily defined by one specific color. In fact, the gemstone turquoise is one of the rarest and most fascinating gemstones in the world.

Royston turquoise specimen, Nevada. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Murano glass belt. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Iranian artwork. Courtesy of Vahid reza Shahsavani and Mr. Y. Sa’adaty, Persian Turquoise Mine Company.

Stamps from the Republique Togolaise and Granada. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Knowing the Mystical Qualities of Turquoise

Just as a spider slowly spins its web, turquoise legends have been woven throughout history, linking people and societies with their ancestral pasts. Turquoise was just a colorful formation within a hillside crevice until a passerby became intrigued with the blue or green rock that was easily picked up along the hillside wash. Since that moment in time, millions have trod the turquoise trail for its mystical powers, folklore, and beauty. Man’s romance with turquoise has continued into the twenty-first century as miners, artists, traders, and collectors have shared the old paths and legends while developing new trails and adding their own captivating tales. Enthusiasts can study turquoise and learn from thousands of years of collected knowledge in books, magazines, art, and photographs.

With advances in science, geologists know turquoise generally forms near the surface, and mineralogists are aware that the hydrated phosphates of copper and aluminum are a part of turquoise’s chemical formula. With all of the known scientific and factual information about turquoise, its rarity, and its diverse beauty, the greatest allure to this gem remains its legendary history of how past and present cultures value its numerous mystical properties. This legacy of turquoise mystique grew as cultures attributed turquoise and the uses and charm associated with it to simple daily needs and tasks. Past cultures already had strong traditional influences in superstitious belief systems that they believed explained the mysterious and unknown. Many people are superstitious and believe in certain talismans such as turquoise that will protect or strengthen them from what they fear. Archeologists have continued to rediscover this gem in burial chambers and other dig sites around the world, cataloging thousands of pieces of turquoise, beads, inlay, and artifacts that could represent many ceremonial uses.

Clockwise from left: Santo Domingo Pueblo artist—mosaic shell encrusted with Enchantment turquoise, New Mexico; unknown artist—row bracelet (ca. 1940) set with Hachita turquoise, New Mexico; unknown artist—leather purse set with Persian turquoise; Navajo or Zuni artist—barrette (pre-1960) made with Morenci turquoise, Arizona; Frank Patania—matching barrettes set with Number Eight turquoise, Nevada.

Beliefs

Turquoise has always played a part in history, and its history is still being lived today. Just as people today relate good luck to a rabbit’s foot or bad luck to when a black cat crosses a person’s path, the charm and mystical qualities of turquoise became intertwined with a person’s or a tribe’s story of origin, power, safety, or wealth. As this individual or tribe’s stature grew, the tales about the blue or green rock they possessed and gave value to also grew. Many of these past stories about turquoise’s mystical qualities seem to be the thread that has woven this gem’s history and traditions far beyond any actual monetary value. Scientists may wonder how ancient beliefs about turquoise representing a sign of good luck has survived the test of common sense and science, but even today’s smartest people may think twice before they walk under a ladder or stay out late on Friday the thirteenth. The simplicity of ancient beliefs and lore of past societies still attract many aficionados to turquoise. Many admirers of turquoise seem to relate to the traditions and beliefs of past cultures more than the calculated and impersonal substantive world of science. As the world has grown in population and scientific knowledge, many individuals seem to have lost sight of who they are and have embarked on quests to become a part of something that is tied to their past. It is within many historic societies and stories about these cultures that many people find solace and escape from their busy modern lives. Sometimes people believe or write about the past in terms that do not require them to stay within the confines of history as they write their own utopia.

Contents of medicine pouch. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Leo Pablano, Zuni Pueblo artist—fire god kachina. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Unknown artists—healing necklaces (upper left), male/female necklace (lower right). Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Tibetan artifact. Photo by Joe Dan Lowry; courtesy of Tibetan Sisters Art.

Mankind’s Journey

The continued fascination with turquoise defines just how powerful this gem has been in mankind’s journey into the future. It inspires a miner’s search, an artist’s imagination, a collector’s eye, and each one’s appreciation of history, art, and beliefs. Since there is no written history about the first discoveries of this rock or why the first finders of these rocks would value them so greatly, the following story takes us back in time to muse about how mankind began his love affair with this blue and green rock and how it has stood the test of science.

Zak Hutson, artist—illustration of indigenous turquoise mining. Photo by Davonna Lowry; courtesy of Turquoise Museum.

Toubma

It had lightly rained all night, and Toubma was dreading getting out from under the warm furs. It was time for the hunt. His tribe needed food, and his wife and children needed new foot coverings. Sunlight glistened off the morning dew as he and his best friend, Krarrt, headed toward the distant mountain. As they started climbing up the face of a rugged ridge, something caught Toubma’s eye. He reached down and scooped up the colorful rock, studying it before he placed it in his leather pouch. It was just before the sun started to warm their bodies when they noticed the animal tracks. Toubma was a terrible tracker and a lousy shot, so he was amazed when he finally lifted his eyes after scurrying under a group of trees to see the biggest beast he had ever seen not more than fifty yards away.

It was getting late as they started down the mountain with their prize. This beast would feed their families for a week, and they could make many new coverings from the hide. The two friends stopped to rest as they gazed at the gathering spring storm clouds working their way up the mountain’s valley. As he rested, Toubma kicked against the surrounding rocks and, remembering his early morning find, took the blue rock out of his pouch to admire. It was getting late and they needed to continue their journey.

What was that? Toubma and Krarrt dove for cover as the bright light flashed and the loud boom cracked in their ears. Toubma called his friend, who lay motionless in death near a boulder. When Toubma returned home, everyone was horrified to hear the story of the day’s events. Toubma’s wife, Sinatea, told him that his newly discovered treasure must have