Pendants

Gabe Sice made this graceful corn maiden from antler.  She is wearing a tablita which is worn during ceremony.  She has inlaid coral on her face and neck, and jet eyes.  Her hair and corn kernels are beautiful detailed.  She has a sterling silver lop at the top of the head so she can be worn.  More about corn maidens below.

Size: 2.5" L x .5" w

Female corn beings represent all that is good about being a woman: loving, generous, nurturing, kind, strong with great compassion.  In tribes that traditionally grow corn, most of the stories are the similar.  There are many Indigenous stories about how corn was brought to the people at a time when there was hunger, and how a sacred, sometimes other worldly, female being brought them corn.  In Zuni Pueblo, there are three ages of female corn beings: the maiden who wears her hair in the traditional buns on each side, the mother who has one or more babies, and the elder grandmother who wears her shawl over her head. There are dances to honor the female corn beings in many of the Pueblos.  And in other tribes, she is held in a place of great honor.

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

The bear pendant has beautiful overlay of brass and sterling silver as well as  impeccable stamp-work. The bale is larger which can be strung on beads or multiple strands of heishi.  It was made by Rosita Singer, the wife of the late Tommy Singer who was a very well known jeweler, both Navajo.  She signs her work T&R Singer in his honor. Sterling silver chain sold separately in Miscellaneous Jewelry. More about bears below.

Size: 1.25" H x 2" W  - does not include bale of .5" Diameter 

Bears are the guardians of the western gate in Zuni Pueblo.  They are associated with healing at all levels, protection, and a reminder to restore oneself during the winter months.  In some traditions a part of the bear is rubbed all over infants to imbue them with power, strength, and good health.

A sky blue natural natural Sleeping Beauty polished turquoise nugget also has dark gray matrix that is interesting.  It is set in sterling silver with twisted wire around the bezel and three silver domes at the bottom.  Sleeping Beauty turquoise is highly sought after around the world. The Sleeping Beauty mine is near Globe, Arizona and is closed to the public.  This pendant was part of a collection of Native American jewelry that we purchased in the 1990s.  It has never been worn.

Size: 1.75" H x .675" W

This turquoise pendant set in sterling silver came from a collection that included vintage jewelry.  The silverwork is very clean and includes twisted silver around the sawtooth bezel.

Size: 1.875" includes bale x 1.675 W

Double the beauty with this natural Morenci turquoise, sterling silver pendant by Navajo jeweler, Larose Ganadonegro.  The turquoise has white and charcoal gray inclusions which make them look like clouds in the springtime sky.  The silverwork is impeccable, with twisted wire around the bezels, four silver balls which draw the eye, and a repousse star at the bottom.  The bale is large enough for a very large chain, beads, or several strands of smaller beads.  Stamped on the back with Larose's hallmark.  Liquid silver sold separately.

Size: 2.75" L (includes bale) x .75" W - Inner dimension of bale .675"

This sterling silver natural turquoise pendant was created by Navajo jeweler, Samuel Yellowhair.  There is twisted silver wire around the bezel and delicately precise cut-outs around the outer edge. The bale is wide enough for a thicker chain or 2mm beads.

Size: 2.25" L includes bale - .875" W

Navajo jeweler, Leon Martinez, set natural Morenci turquoise in this gorgeous sterling silver setting.  The setting includes hand-stamped rays on six small domes, four repousse drops of water, and hand-stamped details on the bottom.  Comes with 2mm sterling silver beads with a lobster claw clasp.  Both the beads and the pendant have been oxidized to give them a vintage look.  Stamped "Leon Mtz" and "STERLING" ON THE BACK.

Size: 2.5" H (with bale) x 1.125" W

Navajo jeweler, Samuel Yellowhair, made this sterling silver pendant with natural Royston turquoise.  The color of the stone is actually a beautiful deep teal color that the camera refused to pick up.  Around the simple bezel is twisted wire, and around the wire are lovely details.  The bale is large enough for 4mm beads or a heavier chain.

Size: 2" H x .875" W - includes bale

This Navajo handmade pendant has a beautiful spiny oyster shell set in sterling silver.  The color of the shell shifts from purple to shades of yellow.  There are eight silver balls soldred onto the bottom of the bezel.  The bale is large enough for 4mm beads or a heavier chain. Chain not included.

Size: 1.875" H x .675" W

This Navajo handmade cobblestone inlay, sterling silver pendant is shaped like and arrow.  The stones are natural high grade Sleeping Beauty turquoise, onyx, and natural red coral.  The bale is large enough to fit a heavier chain.  Cobblestone refers to how the stones are slightly raised, like a cobblestone street.

Size: 1.875" H x .375" W

Gabe Sice made this graceful corn maiden from antler.  She hs the two traditional buns on each side of her head.  There is inlaid turquoise and coral on her face and neck.  One maiden has all red coral inlaid on her face and neck.  Her hair and corn kernels are beautiful detailed.  She has a sterling silver lop at the top of the head so she can be worn.  More about corn maidens below.

Size: 2.5" L x .5" w

Female corn beings represent all that is good about being a woman: loving, generous, nurturing, kind, strong with great compassion.  In tribes that traditionally grow corn, most of the stories are the similar.  There are many Indigenous stories about how corn was brought to the people at a time when there was hunger, and how a sacred, sometimes other worldly, female being brought them corn.  In Zuni Pueblo, there are three ages of female corn beings: the maiden who wears her hair in the traditional buns on each side, the mother who has one or more babies, and the elder grandmother who wears her shawl over her head. There are dances to honor the female corn beings in many of the Pueblos.  And in other tribes, she is held in a place of great honor.

Traditionally, Zuni carvings are symbolically fed cornmeal.   Each Zuni fetish comes in a box with a descriptive card and a tiny bit of corn meal to tide them over until they reach you.

Two perfect natural red coral cabochons in 14kt gold bezels nestle in a shadowbox setting.  Around the coral are four 14kt detailed leafs and a smooth section below.  The gold sits on a sterling silver center back and hook.  Navajo made, MB is stamped on the back.  We believe this piece was made in the 1960s.

Size: 2" H x 1.5" W x .375" D - Coral 1" H x .5" W  &  .675" H x .375" W

This sterling silver overlay Butterfly Maiden was made by Hopi jeweler, Frank Lahaleon.  She is so beautiful!  She has a feather tied into her hair, face paint, and is holding a bow with two ears of corn.  Her dress has traditional designs and she is wearing mocassins with leg wraps.  Her butterfly wings have traditional designs which include water, lightening, mountains, snow, and whirlwinds.  It has a 1.25" pin on the back, as well as a loop for a chain.  More about the overlay technique below.

Size: 3" H x 1.5" W

Hopi Overlay  Overlay jewelry is made by sawing out two sheets of sterling silver or gold the same size.  Hopi jewelers texture the bottom sheet with hatch marks.  It is then oxidized to turn it black.  The design is drawn on to the top sheet of silver which is then carefully sawed out with a fine jeweler's saw. The edges are filed smooth.  The top piece is soldered on to the bottom piece.  Sometimes, there are many small pieces that are also soldered on to the bottom sheet of silver.  It is then polished to a high sheen.  Overlay is very labor intensive!

This tufa cast naja was made by Navajo silversmith Kevin Yazzie.  It has graceful, yet strong lines.  The three arrow points at the top are polished to a high sheen and make a very cool contrast to the organic texture of the organic texture from the tufa.  The hook on the back cannot be seen from the front, and can be hooked onto your favorite necklace or chain.  The beads do not come with it.  This is one of the most beautiful tufa cast najas we've ever seen!   Najas are worn by women and men.  More about najas and tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 3" H x 2" W

Najas are a prominent symbol in Navajo jewelry and are always the center piece in squash blossom necklaces.  I was told they are a feminine symbol, and their crescent shape represents the arms of a matriarch and the generations of the past and future.  It symbolizes ease of movement, paths of least resistance for the family, even during challenging times.  There is a sense of open arms in the shape of the naja that is soothing.  Some najas have hands on each end.

Tufa Jewelry: Tufa is a volcanic stone which can be as dense as chalk which has an organic texture. The first thing a jeweler does is examine a piece of tufa for any tiny fractures.  If it looks good, the tufa is cut in half and, if there is a design, it is carved into the tufa.   There is a pour hole carved into the top and several narrow vents carved into each side.  The two pieces are then bound tightly together and molten silver or gold is poured through the hole at the top.  If there are any microscopic cracks, the tufa explodes when the metal is poured in and the process has to begin again. 

This stunning pendant has red, purple and pink spiny oyster shell with splashes of Sleeping Beauty turquoise set in brushed sterling silver.  The bale is large enough for two or three strands of 4mm beads, a thick chain, or 8-10mm beads.  This pendant is a reminder to the wearer of the vitality of water...water is life!  Price drop from $490 to $420!

Size: 3.75" H x 1.25" W