The Tahe name (Navajo - Arizona, USA) has several different identifiable styles associated with it. Jewelry created in this name may or may be created by people related to one another.
The best known style is very recognizable. They buy various types and gauges of wire and metal sheeting and work them into their final products.
The results are typically very clean, and well executed. They mostly use silver but, once upon a time, Franklin and Verna did some gold fill work. I still own some of these that are new old stock in both bracelets and earrings. The gold work seemed to stop when metal prices sky-rocketed about the time of the Great Recession. Like many artists they started doing copper work when silver became too expensive so it would not be surprising if you were to run across examples of any of the above.
The style is popular with men and women alike; Robert Redford wore one of their bracelets in the movie "The Horse Whisperer". Scroll down and you will find this as made by Elaine Tahe.
There are about six people whose work I see with some frequency signing under the Tahe name. There may be more but these are the ones with whom I am at least passingly familiar.
As previously mentioned, I'm not clear about the familial relationship(s) of all these folks, if any. Verna and Franklin are a married couple and, I suspect, the eldest listed here. According to G. Schaaf, Jewelry III: M-Z Published 2013, Verna was born in 1953). Schaaf does not mention any of the other Tahes but that doesn't really mean anything, there are a huge number of artists not included in his books.
Artie Yellowhorse's grandmother, Anna, was a weaver named Tahy. I have tried, without success, to pry out of Artie if there is any relationship to any of the "Tahe" jewelers. I don't think she is trying to hide anything, it's probably because she doesn't know and, clearly, I'm more interested than she is. Some of her plain silver work bracelets bear at least a passing resemblance to some of this work. That said, it doesn't mean there is any connection what-so-ever.
If anyone out there has more specific and accurate info I would be thrilled to have it so I'm not leading anyone down the primrose path. I periodically update information as I learn something new.
My Franklin & Verna stock is "new old stock" that was purchased from a trader that was closing out their longstanding wholesale jewelry operation. I have about 50 bracelets (some are duplicates) and 40 separate designs of earrings (I have a lot of dups in some of these too). The construction of the pieces is heavier (more silver and gold) than is being used now because both were considerably cheaper at that time. Some things are signed, some aren't (often the bracelets are but not the earrings.) Most of the bracelets I have were made by Verna and/or Franklin. I suspect mine are late 1990's to early 2000's.
I do have some current pieces by the husband and wife team of Elaine and Benny Tahe, where they fit on any family tree is a mystery to me. Eleaine seems to be doing the bulk of the current work resembling what Franklin & Verna used to do.
Similar work can also be found by Nora Tahe.
You will also see a completely new style here being created by Leander Tahe.
I have no idea, at this time, if any of them are related.
I have a customer and new friend in Australia who has over 60 vintage Tahe bracelets. She has scoured the web, rescuing many older bracelets from meltdown. Tahes from the 1970's? (not sure of exact timing) weigh in at nearly double the weight of my pieces. The pieces I have weigh in at about 1/3rd more than most of the more recent work I have seen.
In any case the end result is unfailingly one of my most popular lines of jewelry. Their work is admired, in demand, and purchased by every ethnic and income group. As the new/old stock depletes I will likely add in the more recent work.
I still have a lot to post.
$299.00
Elaine Tahe, Navajo Very popular bracelet style, often referred to as "the horse whisperer" from Robert Redford wearing this in the movie. Cleanly executed cuff for understated tastes. This may be...
Sold Out - $105.60
Elaine Tahe, Navajo Clean lines and modern feel to this very pretty cuff. A lot of bang for your buck on this inexpensive cuff. Elaine tends to make this cuff small...
$96.00
Elaine Tahe, Navajo- Arizona, USA Very popular bracelet style for decades. Cleanly executed cuff for understate tastes. Perfectly sized for men or a lady with larger wrist. This has a nice...
$32.00
Artist: Franklin & Verna Tahe, Navajo - NM, USA Native American Jewelry. NEW old stock - approximately year 2000 (per the artist). This is NOT a pre-owned piece, it was...
$140.00
Tahe, Franklin & Verna (Navajo) ***LAST ONE*** Beautiful cuff bracelet. Raised center bar with stamped horizontal ovals each framed with eight triangle designs. 1" Wide of with (1) Gold-filled bar,...
$185.00
Tahe , Franklin & Verna (Navajo) Beautiful cuff bracelet. Double row of 12K gold fill chain link design flanked on each side by with two rows of double sterling twists. This...
$185.00
Tahe, Franklin & Verna (Navajo) **LAST ONE** Beautiful cuff bracelet. Truly one of my absolute favorites of old Tahe work. I was only able to get two of these, and...
$125.00
Franklin & Verna Tahe, Navajo **LAST ONE - NEW OLD STOCK** Simple & beautiful. Two rows of double twist wire braided sterling silver flanked with domed rails of silver on each side. This is...
$240.00
Leander Tahe, Navajo The geometric designs of Leander have become popular in the last few years. They are imaginative, have a modern feel, well executed. It is unisex and quite adjustable. I...
$49.50
Rhonda Tahe, Navajo ***ONE LEFT*** Different and attractive. Made with light gauge silver so they won't weigh down your ear. Rhonda is the wife of Leander Tahe. The photo is...
$110.00
Tahe Navajo - Native American Jewelry : The Tahe classic twist wire design earrings. These are the upscale 12K gold fill version. There are dozens variations in size and design in...
Sold Out - $0.00
Tahe Navajo - Native American Jewelry Tahe classic coil wire design earrings. These are the pure sterling version. There are dozens variations in size and design in Tahe earrings, I have about...
$85.00
Tahe, Franklin & Verna (Navajo) - Native American Jewelry Tahe classic coil wire earrings. Regardless of size, materials, and/or number of coils, this has been a hugely popular design. I...
$85.00
Tahe, Franklin & Verna (Navajo) - Native American Jewelry Tahe classic coil wire earrings. Regardless of size, materials, and/or number of coils, this has been a hugely popular design. I...
Sold Out - $0.00
Tahe, Navajo- Arizona, USA Native American Jewelry Exceptional cuff bracelet. Large raised center rope with 12k gold fill. Two 1/8" silver side bars with stamped horizontal sunrise half ovals and (2) 1/16"W Sterling...
Sold Out - $138.00
Tahe, Navajo **LAST ONE** Beautiful cuff bracelet. Wide 3/8" Band of 12k gold fill with four rows of twisted 12k GF & four rows of 1/8" sterling silver. This is NEW OLD...
Sold Out - $0.00
Tahe , Franklin & Verna (Navajo) **LAST ONE** Beautiful cuff bracelet. Six large 12K gold fill wire interlaced to create a rope. Flanked and backed with silver. Two 12k GF twist...
Sold Out - $0.00
Franklin & Verna Tahe, Navajo SOLD OUT Pretty, well executed, cuff. Part of a large purchase in 2011 of new old stock of Franklin & Verna's work. This was made sometime...
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Franklin & Verna Tahe, Navajo Tight metal work on this pretty cuff. Part of a large purchase in 2011 of new old stock of Franklin & Verna's work. This was made...
Sold Out - $0.00
Franklin & Verna Tahe, Navajo ***LAST ONE - NEW OLD STOCK*** Nice contrast between the silver-backed gold fill ropes and the flanking silver. Very sharp clean metal-work. Part of a large...
Sold Out - $96.00
Artist: Elaine Tahe, Navajo- Arizona, USA Native American Indian Jewelry. Nice cleanly executed cuff for understate tastes. Perfectly sized for men or a lady with larger wrist. This has a nice...
Sold Out - $0.00
Elaine Tahe, Navajo- Arizona, USA Native American Indian Jewelry. Nice, cleanly executed cuff for understate tastes. Perfectly sized for men or a lady with larger wrist. This has a nice solid...