Vintage BOLA Cripple Creek Turquoise

The controversy rages on. Is it bola (ending in an “a”) tie? Or is it bolo (ending in an “o”) tie? Texans will claim it is neither, that it is a “Texas tie.”

However, around mid-century, linguists determined that a bolo is a device used in South America, two balls attached by rope. Used for hunting. And there is a bolo, a gift in SW ceremonies. These gave purpose and clarity to the spelling the phrase “bow-lah tie” to end with an “a”. And for decades that “a” convention stuck in print. But there is now an authoritative book using the “o”, bolo tie. And Wikipedia following suit using the “o”. So these days, Twenty-First Century style, it is your choice. I use the “a” and blame it on the Seventies. Bola.

A bola tie is a leather lariat, linked at front by a slider, looped over the neck, tightened or loosened at will. Vic Cederstrom of Wickenburg was among the early creators of the collector-quality bola tie. Native American jewelers found it a valid addition to their product lines. Famous artisans like Loloma, Lloyd Kiva New, Yazzie and Begay find great creativity in the bola tie. The fashion industry finds it particularly useful nowadays.

DESCRIPTION: This particular bola tie is vintage as attested to by its incredibly deep patina and cord loops, the earliest type of slider attachments.

The stone is natural turquoise, with a rich blue mineralized core winding through a river of quartz. Cripple Creek, typical of 1950, semi-nugget cut typical of post-WWII. ca.1950, original cord and tips.