Jewelry

What a beautiful reminder of spring to come! Bold and beautiful would define this butterfly pin/pendant by Zuni jeweler Angus Ahiyite.  Jet, natural red coral,  natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise, and gold lip mother of pearl are artfully inlaid in the wings and the body is natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise.  There is a loop for a chain and a pin back. More about butterflies below.

Size: 1.75" H x 2.75" W

Butterflies begin their lives as caterpillars, crawling around and munching on leaves.  They then go through a dramatic transformation inside the cocoons that they make for this purpose.  They emerge as creatures of the air and flight.  For many Native American people, planting specific seeds and harvests revolve around when butterflies emerge or depart.  They also symbolize transformation because they go through such huge changes.

Imagine this beautiful dragonfly on a hat, jacket, or shirt!  Lyndon Ahiyite from Zuni Pueblo made this sterling silver dragonfly pin.  It has inlaid natural red coral, gold lip mother of pearl, jet, and natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise.  We love how the twisted wire flips up at the end of the body!  It has a pin back, and "LA" and "Zuni" are inscribed on the back.  More about dragonflies below.

Size: 1.5" H x 1.25" W

Dragonflies have different, yet similar meanings throughout Native America.  In Zuni, they are messengers between this world and the next and are related to the coming rains and corn.  In other tribes they are strong protectors as dragonflies are one of the very few creatures that can fight while flying backwards.  They are known to watch our backs and offer protection.  Their symbol is a vertical line with two horizontal bars, and can be seen on war shirts, shields and painted on horses going into battle.

Imagine this beautiful dragonfly on a hat, jacket, or shirt!  It can also be worn as a pendant with a chain slipping through the antennae loops. Lyndon Ahiyite from Zuni Pueblo made this sterling silver dragonfly pin/pendant.  It has inlaid natural red coral, gold lip mother of pearl, jet and natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise.  We love how the twisted wire flips up at the end of the body!  It has a pin back, and "LA" and "Zuni" are inscribed on the back.  More about dragonflies below.

Size: 1.875" H x 1.75" W

Dragonflies have different, yet similar meanings throughout Native America.  In Zuni, they are messengers between this world and the next and are related to the coming rains and corn.  In other tribes they are strong protectors as dragonflies are one of the very few creatures that can fight while flying backwards.  They are known to watch our backs and offer protection.  Their symbol is a vertical line with two horizontal bars, and can be seen on war shirts, shields and painted on horses going into battle.

This heavy gage sterling silver snake chain has a lobster clasp.  It can be viewed on a pendant below.

Size: 18" Long and 226.8 grams

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.

Wearing this sterling silver ring by Navajo jeweler Chris Charley is like wearing a blessing.  The eagle feather is beautifully detailed and the quill is wrapped at the bottom with the silver strand lying across the feather - just like we would wrap the quill of real eagle feather. It has a double shank band and is sterling silver. CC and Sterling are stamped inside. More about eagles below.

Size: 7.5 - Feather 1.75" L x .75" W

The eagle is the most sacred of all the raptors since it sees the furthest and flies the highest.  It is a messenger which takes our prayers to the Creator and it is a blessing to see one.  

Do you or a loved one have trouble finding your keys?  With this key fob and attached key ring you can easily attach them to your purse, tote, belt loop, or wherever you can slip the pin through. Navajo jeweler Sally Arviso set two sky blue turquoise stones in the head of this safety pin, also making it easier to find, as well as an eagle in flight.

Size: 3.25" L x .75 W (does not include the keyring)

If you (or she) loves birds, and especially hummingbirds, this is the one! An eagle feather is beaded on each side. It was created by Navajo beadwork artist Wilton Hoffman.  He used raspberry, white, black, gray seed beads, and purple for the hummingbird. White leather is on the inside.  More about hummingbirds below.

Size: 5.5" with additional 1" opening - 1" wide

Hummingbirds are fierce defenders of their families.  Many Indigenous people consider them to be messengers between this world and the spirit world.  And, in some tribes they are considered to be “love medicine”.

If you (or she) loves birds, and especially hummingbirds, this is the one! An eagle feather is beaded on each side. It was created by Navajo beadwork artist Wilton Hoffman.  He used raspberry, white, black, gray seed beads, and pink and purple for the hummingbird. White leather is on the inside.  More about hummingbirds below.

Size: 5.5" with additional 1" opening - 1" wide

Hummingbirds are fierce defenders of their families.  Many Indigenous people consider them to be messengers between this world and the spirit world.  And, in some tribes they are considered to be “love medicine”.

These small post earrings have natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise set in the center of the sterling shadowbox making the sky blue color pop!  

Size: .375" Diameter

Natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise and red coral bring beauty to these small Navajo handmade naja sterling silver post earrings.  More about najas below.

Size: .5" H x .375" 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.

This Navajo handmade necklace comes with a pair of matching earrings. The necklaces is made of ten strands of turquoise, silver, bronze, and white seed beads. The beads end in sterling silver cones and a hook and eye clasp.  It is a much lighter weight necklace than those made of metal.

Size: Necklace 27" Long - Earrings 4" Long (includes wires)

Twenty-two hand-cut natural red coral stones are inlayed like bricks in this sterling silver bracelet.  The work is very fine. "Sterling" along with a hallmark on the inside: "GT".  Each year the price of natural coral increases due to the reduction of what is available.  The same can be said of natural turquoise. 

Size: 5.25" Long - 1" Opening - .25" W 

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

With Kokopelli on one side and a natural turquoise on the other, you can't go wrong!  Kokopelli was cut out by hand from sterling silver.  The other side has natural turquoise set in a sterling silver with a hand-stamped leaf and vines.  It hangs from an 18" sterling silver chain. This pendant was in a collection of jewelry that we purchased in the 1990s and has a patina that can be polished out, but we thought it looked cool.

Size: 1.25" H x .675" W

Two natural red coral stones are set in an oxidized sterling silver setting with a rim of shiny silver.  Small but very noticable!

Size: .5" H x .375" W

It's amazing that these stones are cut and inlaid into such a small sterling silver earring!  Natural red coral is on each side at the top surrounding Shimmering white mother of pearl. Below is a line of jet and below that is more mother of pearl.

Size: .25" H x .25" W

It's amazing that these stones are cut and inlaid into such a small sterling silver earring!  Gold lip mother of pearl is on each side at the top surrounding natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise. Below is a line of natural red coral and below that is more Sleeping Beauty turquoise.  

Size: .25" H x .25" W

You get two in one in this sterling silver Navajo pendant!  One side has purple spiny oyster shell in a graceful vine and leaf setting.  The other side is turquoise set in a shadowbox bear paw.  It comes with an 18" sterling silver chain. More about bears below.  This pendant was in a collection that we bought in the 1990s.

Size: 1" H x .5" W - include bale

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.

Bold and beautiful would define this butterfly pin/pendant by Zuni jeweler Angus Ahiyite.  Jet, orange spiny shell, natural red coral, green and blue turquoise, and jasper are artfully inlaid in the wings and the body is natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise.  There is a loop for a chain and a pin back. More about butterflies below.

Size: 1.75" H x 2.875" W

Butterflies begin their lives as caterpillars, crawling around and munching on leaves.  They then go through a dramatic transformation inside the cocoons that they make for this purpose.  They emerge as creatures of the air and flight.  For many Native American people, planting specific seeds and harvests revolve around when butterflies emerge or depart.  They also symbolize transformation because they go through such huge changes.