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.

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.

Navajo jeweler Sonei Coho crafted this sterling silver overlay Thunderbird pendant and set a diamond shaped turquoise in the center.  More about Thunderbirds below.

Size: 1" x 1"

This sterling silver feather pendant was made by Navajo jeweler, Chris Charley.  The feather is intricately detailed and quill is wrapped with a silver wire that appears to hang down onto the feather.  Stamped "C" and "Sterling" on the back.

Size: 3" H x .75" W

The eagle is the most sacred of all the raptors since it sees the furthest and flies the highest.  It is considered as a messenger to take our prayers to the Creator.  Eagle feathers are ceremonially given those who have accomplished an act of courage, bravery, or accomplishment.

This lovely older sterling silver Navajo pendant was made by Henry Spencer.  The malachite is vibrant shades of green.  It came to us in a collection from a Native American store that was closing.  It is at least 20+ years old and has not been used.  We love the creative bale which a chain, leather, or stain strap can go through.  Or, be creative and string it with your favorite beads.  Stamped "H Spencer" and "Sterling" on the back.

Size: 1.375" H x 1.25" W

This Navajo hand-stamped pendant was made by Vincent Platero who is well-known for his mastery of stamping sterling silver jewelry.  The bale is large enough for 10mm size beads or several strands of smaller beads.  It comes with the 20" long sterling silver beads which are not Native American made.

Pendant Size: 2.875" H x 1.125" 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

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

This striking pendant was made by Navajo jeweler Jan Mariano set black onyx in a sterling silver setting.  Twisted silver wire and ten silver domes wrap around the bezel.  

Size: 2.125" H x1.125" W

Navajo jeweler Sharon McCarthy set  purple spiny oyster shell in a sterling silver setting.  The sterling silver chain is through a silver tube at the top.  The bezel has twisted silver wire around the stone with five silver balls as accents.

Size: 1.125" H x .75 W - Chain 18" Long

Zuni jeweler, Deanna Edaakie, made this lovely sterling silver hummingbird pin/pendant.  The stones include gold lip Mother of Pearl, jet, abalone and natural turquoise and red coral.  On the back is a .675" long pin and a loop for beads or a chain.  There is also writing on the back that we could no make out.

Size: 1" H x 1" W

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”.

This high-grade sugilite pendant was made by Navajo jeweler, Harold James.  The brushed sterling silver is oxidized to highlight the detail in the stamp work and to give it a vintage finish.  The sugilite is very bright and very purple!  The bale is large enough for 12mm beads.  It is stamped "Harold J" and "Sterling" on the back.  

The actual color was challenging to capture, but the stones are a royal purple color.

The sugilite beads range in color from darker royal purple to sugilite "jelly", which is translucent royal purple.  Sugilite jelly is the highest grade of sugilite.  it has ten sterling silver beads with sterling silver accent beads on each side.

Pendant size: 2.5" H x 1.375" W - Stone: 1" H x .875" W

Beads: 18" L with 2" Extender

This smiling bear was made from turquoise with jet eyes and smile by Zuni carver, Claudia Peina.  She inlaid six red coral stones on the body and jet claws.  Just because this bear is smiling doesn't mean it isn't powerful.  A sterling silver bale is on top of its head to be worn or hung.  More about bears below.

Size: 2.5" H x .875" L x .375" W

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.

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.1

Everett Pino carved this bear from serpentine, also called "fish rock".  It has an inlaid jet heartline which indicates the spirit moving to the heart.  He wrapped it in sterling silver to wear as a pendant.  More about bears below.

Size: 1.5" H x 2.25" L x .25" W

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.

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"

Zuni jeweler, Tracy Bowekaty, set natural Sleeping Beauty turquoise in a delicate sterling silver saw-tooth bezel surrounded by twisted silver wire.  From each side of the three silver domes on the bottom, stylized silver leaves hold the corn.  The corn kernels are detailed with lapis, malachite, red coral, sugilite, and jet.  The bale is also on the back, along with a .75" long pin with safety catch.  Tracy's initials are engraved onto the back.  

Size: 1.125" H x 1" W

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.

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

Size: 2.25" 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 natural Morenci turquoise pendant is absolutely gorgeous!  The color is a deep teal turquoise with small areas of grey and green.  It was made by Navajo jeweler, LaRosa Ganadonegro and the setting is impeccable.  The bale is large enough for 30mm beads or several strands of smaller beads.  

Size: 3.5" Long with bale, pendant is 2.625" L x 1.75" 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!

We love the tufa cast jewelry by Gary Custer, and this one is especially nice.  The naja has a crown in which a beautiful forest green natural variscite stone is nestled.  The bale hook on the back can slip over beads or it can hang on a chain.  In addition to being tufa cast, it has also been lightly oxidized to give it a depth.  This naja is fit for a queen!  The beads are sold separately.  More about najas and tufa cast jewelry below.

Size: 3" x 2.375"

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 Cast 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 together tightly 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. 

Harrison Bitsue made this traditional Navajo naja using the tufa cast technique.  He hand-stamped the designs near the top that appear to be the rays of the sun with tassles on each each end.  A bright blue turquoise stone is set in the center.  The naja has been oxidized to give it a vintage appearance.  The hook on the back can slip over just about any size necklace.  It does not come with the necklace shown.  More about najas and the tufa cast technique.

Size: 2.5" H x 2.375" 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.

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 together tightly 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 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. 

The silver setting of this Navajo inlaid pendant has delicate cut outs on the left and right, showcasing the inlay.  The stones are spiny oyster shell on top, followed by sterling silver, jet, white clam shell, turquoise, and lapis.  The bale is large enough for a medium size chain or cord.  Stamped "PLL" on the back.

Size: 1.75" H x .625" W

This very traditional Zuni Pueblo pendant is signed by TJ.  The traditional stones are used: red coral, Sleeping Beauty turquoise, jet and mother of pearl.  The stones are set in sterling silver with braided silver wire all around the stones.  The bale would fit a thick silver chain or 4mm beads.  Price reduced from $290 to $250!

Size: 2.875" H x 1.625" W 

Each stone is cut to fit exactly into the other like a puzzle.  Even the thin black jet lines are cut to size and inlaid.

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