Otter vs. hairplate drag?

[WhoMe]

Anybody know of good silver workers who can put "quality" silver rosette drags together.

Right off hand Lee "Smitty" Smith and Larry Kincer come to mind.

Anybody else?

[straightboy]

There is a guy from the Dallas, Ft. Worth area that is doing some great work. His name is Dick Green. He has been setting up at most local DFW pow-wows.

[Fat Albert]

There an obvious guy out in Anadarko (that’s where I see him) I think from the Cesar family but I can't remember his first name... I don't know if he does plate sets or not since I see him with a lot of pins but his work is solid and well composed. Also out in that area is Carl Jennings when he is pounding silver. I know he does sets for drops. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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From <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Bastrop</st1:City> <st1:State w:st="on">Texas</st1:State></st1:place> is Chris Klink (I think is how he spells it) but often times he does not back hammer his commercial work. He will though and is good on custom work if you tell him exactly what you want.<o:p></o:p>

[Paul G]

Why is otter used as opposed to some other animal?

Someone asked me that recently and I've never thought about!

[Fat Albert]

I was always told it had everything to do with the otters relationship to water. Water is so important to everything in the dance and life that the symbols should be related to it as well. I have heard other stories about the otter being fast and clever and all of that... but the water relationship is what I hear from the old timers.

[Tsi-tse Wa-tsi]

Heard the same about the otter and it also protects you.

[Gledanh Zhinga]

Getting back to Historian's mention of the otter wrap on a bear claw necklace...

I was asked recently to consult with the staff of the Roswell Museum, New Mexico, in offering information about the Rogers & Mary Aston Collection. We were allowed to bring material out of the cases. I inspected a bear claw necklace that had an otter depending from it. When I lifted the otter and turned it over, there was the little face showing. The otter was decorated obverse and reverse.

When I first saw Historian's brief description, I glimmed it quickly. Now that I have seen the real thing, I am more appreciative of the description and meaning.

[travelingmocs]

Someone asked about good silver makers. Earl Fenner when he is pounding makes some nice stuff. Also Frank Ward makes some nice stuff and Tom Johnson is also working some nice stuff too.

TMS

[cakewalk]

i use an otter decorated with conchos because thats what my uppit gave me when i was dressed.

when i went to sweden they took my bat from my roach but let me take a 6 inch bone spear.

i remember one time coming home from denver march they stopped me and asked me to go to some room with them where we could chat. i was like 12, either way i forgot that in my carry on bag i had shot-off blanks from the color gaurd....i was gonna use them to make bandoliers, dont know why i never did?

[Redstone]

My first and only hairplates were made by Art Tate out of MA. They were his first set, and I wear them with pride. Art made them nicely detailed and graduated them nicely. Thanks Art.

[travelingmocs]

Speaking of east coast, Bob Paytk makes nice stuff also. I am not sure if he is still pounding. But his knowleage is awsome.

[ern_dawg2003]

what it is

I use a otter drag up until someone stole it out of my car. So, now i use the Concho drop, due to can't find otter. I was told that the Otter was considered the most highly respected animal due to the fact that the otter can communicate with water and land animals. And the Otter communicated with Wa'konda.

[Historian]

...due to can't find otter....

One of the best sources for otter pelts is Eidnes Furs in Idaho.

Go to the website at http://www.eidnesfurs.com/ then click the link for "Skins & Hides/Hair On"

[Gledanh Zhinga]

A Wisconsin family shared with me their feelings about otter behavior. The otters are playful animals and their little voices are child like. One is reminded of the next generation, human and animal.