Sweet Little Hummingbird Pendant

Hummingbirds are associated with protection of families and "love medicine".  This sweet little hummingbird pendant was made by award-winning jewelers, Sammy and Esther Guardian (more about them below).  The hummingbird is inlaid with abalone, mother of pearl, turquoise, red coral, and jet.  One flower is inlaid red coral, gold lip mother of pearl, and the other flower is red coral.  The leaves are inlaid malachite.   It is stamped "S&E Guardian" on the back.

Size: 1.25" H x .75" W

Sammy and Esther Guardian are award-winning, married jewelers from Zuni Pueblo.  They have been making jewelry since 1960s, and are well known for their picturesque inlay, especially their birds.  They make earrings, bracelets, pendants, bolo ties, pins, using natural stones and shell.  Their work can be seen in many books on Native American jewelry.

This type of Zuni inlay is made by sawing out two pieces of flat silver into the desired shape.  The area where the stones are inlaid is sawed out by hand (yes, really!).  The two pieces of silver are then soldered together.  The stones are then cut and shaped to exactly fit into the areas that have been sawed out to create the design.  This type of jewelry making is difficult and involved, which is why we don't see too many jewelers making it anymore.