Pendants

Zuni jeweler, Ola Eriacho, made this petite sterling silver pendant with an inlaid sunface on the bale.  She inlaid the bottom dangle with Sleeping Beauty turquoise, red coral, jet, and mother of pearl.  The top of the dangle has a hand stamped sun on the top. 

Size: 1.25" H x .5" W

Zuni jewelers are well know for this type in inlay.  Each stone is cut to exactly fit the into the design the jeweler has imagined.  Even the thin lines are cut and inlaid stone!  The oldest Zuni inlay jewelry used Sleeping Beauty turquoise, natural red coral, jet and mother of pearl.  More contemporary Zuni jewelers will sometimes use other stones.

This Navajo sterling silver cobblestone inlay pendant is inlaid with jet, natural red coral and bight blue turquoise.   It has a delicate bale that would fit a medium size chain or cord.

Size: 1.75" H x .375

This Navajo handmade jet, blue opal, and sterling silver pendant is so elegant.  The geometric design draws attention.  The bale is large enough for a thick chain or 8mm beads.  Imagine what it would like on black onyx beads...wow!

Size: 1.5" H x 1" W

Channel inlay jewelry is a process used extensively by Native American jewelers, particularly those in Zuni Pueblo.  Many other talented jewelers from other tribes in the Southwest also make channel inlay jewelry.  The metal channel, usually silver, is soldered onto the back to create the design.  Afterward, the stones are cut to fit into each section.  It is an exacting process which shows in the beauty of the work of the finished piece(s).

This Navajo handmade inlay pendant has natural red coral, jet, mother of pearl and bright turquoise.  The sterling silver bale fits a thinner chain.  And, it's well priced too!

Size: 2.25" H x .5" W

This pendant was handmade by a Navajo jeweler.  It has a lovely leaf bale with three sterling silver dot accents on the bottom that will fit a thicker chain or 4mm beads.  The inlaid stones are lapis, jet, mother of pearl, orange spiny oyster, turquoise and gold lip mother of pearl.  Even the thin black jet lines are cut and inlaid.  Amazing! 

Size: 2" H x .875" W

This sterling silver pendant would bring the wearer a bit of summer regardless of the season.  It has orange, red, and purple spiny oyster shell, as well as gaspeite, turquoise and jet.  It is channel inlay, with each stone cut exactly to fit like a perfect tight puzzle.

Size: 1.25" H x 1" W

Channel inlay jewelry is a process used extensively by Native American jewelers, particularly those in Zuni Pueblo.  Many other talented jewelers from other tribes in the Southwest also make channel inlay jewelry.  The metal channel, usually silver, is soldered onto the back to create the design.  Afterward, the stones are cut to fit into each section.  It is an exacting process which shows in the beauty of the work of the finished piece(s).

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

Size: 1.75" H x .625" W

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

Zuni jeweler, Carlene Hattie, made this sterling silver pendant with fourteen natural red coral stones in a water drop shape.  Each coral is set in a tiny saw-tooth bezel which is soldered onto an oxidized sheet of silver to turn it black.  Between each coral is a sterling silver ball.  The bale is big enough for a wider chain or 2mm beads.  Since coral is made of hundreds and hundreds of tiny sea creatures, you will be wearing a community of beings from the ocean to remind you that water is life!

Size: 2.5" H x 1.5" W

Unfortunately, natural red coral is becoming more scarce and has been rising in price for the last ten years or so.  As we know, as the seas warm due to climate change, the corals are turning white and dying.  The red coral from the Mediterranean, which is where this coral is possibly from, has been protected - which is a good thing!  It takes many years for coral to grow to a size that it can be cut into "stones" and used in jewelry.  Most of the natural red coral available now has been out of the water for a long time.  Read more about natural red coral HERE.

Navajo jeweler, Samuel Yellowhair, set this night sky blue lapis in a bezel wrapped in twisted wire.  He added another layer of silver with three cut out lines on each side, and eleven cut outs on the bottom,  The bale is wide enough for 6mm beads or a wide silver chain or cord.  The laps has sweeps of pyrite, reminding us of the Milky Way on a clear night.

Size: 2.25" L (includes bale) x .875 W

Navajo jeweler, LaRose Ganadonegro, used soft sky blue natural Candelaria turquoise in this sterling silver pendant.  It even has the palest blue cloud shapes in the stone which reminds us of a beautiful springtime sky.  She set it in a sawtooth bezel and wrapped a twisted wire around it.  She soldered five graduated silver balls on the bottom.  The bale is wide enough for 6-8mm beads.  We are imagining it on a black cord or beads...it would be stunning!  Price reduced from $185 to $140.

Size: 2" L x .75" W

Each line on this sterling silver feather pendant was etched by hand.  The jeweler soldered a round ball of silver at the top which draws the eye upward.  A sweet everyday pendant!  Price reduced from $49.00 to $40.00.

Size: 2" L x .75" W

The eagle flies the highest and sees the furthest of all the birds.  For some tribes, the eagle is the guardian of the sky world.  Eagle feathers are sacred because the eagle takes our prayers to the Creator.  Native American people receive feathers to honor them for acts of courage, bravery, and/or accomplishments.

Navajo jeweler, Daniel Benally, set this chrysocolla stone in a sterling silver setting.  The bezel has wrapped wire all around, 2 repousse stars at the top and five at the hottom.  He also added small silver balls as accents.  The bale is large enough for a thicker chain or cord.

Size: 2.5" L x .875" W

Cherokee jeweler, Michael Anthony Cheatham, made this elegant matt-finished silver pendant.  He set a tear drop shaped Turquoise Mountain stone near the top, and cut out four spaces on the opposite side.  The bale is large enough for a thicker snake chain, leather cord, or 2mm beads.

Size: 2.5625" H x .625" W

Michael Anthony Cheatham is an enrolled member of the Echota Cherokee of Alabama.  He is a self-taught jeweler who has a Gemologist Diploma from the Gemological Institute of America.  We are happy to be the only online representative of his work and hope you enjoy the treasures he creates.

This sterling silver Hopi overlay pendant has two hands at the top with medicine wheel symbols in the palms.  The bottom are offerings that include symbols of water, whirlwind, and feathers.  The back has a crescent moon, star and moon stamped into the back.   The bale is large enough for a delicate chain.  Price reduced from $195 to $180.

Size: 2" L x 1" W

Traditional Hopi overlay jewelry begins as two sheets of sterling silver.  The size of the piece is hand sawn out.  The bottom sheet is etched by hand hand and then oxidized to make it black.  The designs on the top sheet are sawn out by hand and soldered onto the bottom.  This piece was then shaped into a slight dome.

Zuni elder and award-winning jeweler, Effie Calabaza, has been making jewelry for over five decades.  Her pieces are highly desirable and are collected by many people who love her work.  This pendant has her signature snake on it with Sleeping Beauty turquoise eyes, along with two Kingman turquoise nuggets.  The snake's tail forms the bale which will fit a more delicate chain.

Size: 1.75" L x .875 W

Snakes are strong, agile and fast.  Sinuous in their movements, they are only seen when they want to be seen.  They shed their skins as they grow without sentiment for what they leave behind.  When threatened, some snakes have venomous bites.  There are snake dance ceremonies in the Pueblos where initiated men dance holding live rattlesnakes. 

David Tune is an award-winning Creek, Navajo, Hopi jeweler.  He inlaid this pendant with fossilized walrus ivory, orange spiny oyster shell, natural red coral, lapis, and Sleeping Beauty turquoise.  The setting has detailed cut-outs all around the edge of the inlay, and the silver part above is stamped by hand.  It has a long, graceful bail that would fit a wide chain or 4-6mm beads.  It is stamped on the back with his sun hallmark and name.

Size: 1.8125" H x 0.25" W

Sonny Gene created this sterling silver pendant with Kokopelli paying his flute during a storm.  Symbols include clouds, a whirlwind, lightening, kiva ladder, and water.  The bale is large enough for a thick chain or 4mm beads.

Size: 2.5" H x 1.5" W

Traditional Hopi overlay jewelry begins as two sheets of sterling silver.  The size of the piece is hand sawn out.  The bottom sheet is etched by hand hand and then oxidized to make it black.  The designs on the top sheet are sawn out by hand and soldered onto the bottom.  This piece was then shaped into a slight dome.

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

Fadrian and Vivica Bowannie from Zuni Pueblo made this stunning Rainbow Man pin/endant. It has so many beautiful shells and stones: white mother of pearl, natural red coral, pink mussel shell, and Sleeping Beauty Turquoise.  

Size: 1.5" H x 2.25" W

Rainbow Man is an intelligent force of nature that many Pueblo people still communicate with.  It is associated with rain which blesses the crops and the rainbows that rain brings.  It was one of the first traditional images that Zuni people made into jewelry.

This howling wolf or coyote is having a great time under the full moon!  It is sitting happily on a black onyx which keeps it grounded...in a good way.  The Navajo jeweler, Roger Pino, etched fine hairs all over its body.

Size: 1.75" H x a bit over .5" W

Navajo jeweler Phillip Sanchez made this white buffalo pendant.  It is set in sterling silver and delicate cut outs.  The bale is large enough for a small or medium size snake chain.

Size: 1.75" H x .875" W

White Buffalo turquoise was discovered in a the Dry Creek turquoise mine in Arizona in 1993.  It is technically not turquoise.  It has become a desirable stone due to its color and interesting inclusions.

This ornate pendant has a beautiful sky blue turquoise with white matrix which makes it look like a summer sky. Signed by Navajo jeweler, LN, this pendant has delicate scroll of silver and silver balls as ornaments.  The bale is wide enough to string on 6mm stone or silver beads.  It is oxidized to give the silver depth.

Size: 2" L x almost 2" W

The only word to describe this necklace is stunning!  Daniel Coriz inlaid the pendant with two bands of sterling silver, green and blue turquoise, lapis, apple coral and jet, which are set in sterling silver with a large bale.  The four-strand necklace of onyx beads is decorated with handmade stamped sterling silver barrel beads with a sterling clasp that had a 3" extender.

Size: 4" Pendant with bale, 19" necklace, not including then 3" extender

Daniel Coriz is a member of a famous family of jewelers and potters from Kewa Pueblo in New Mexico.  He learned his skills from his grandfather, Lupe Pena, and his mother, Nestoria, who taught him the basics of making jewelry.  He has been creating stunning jewelry for decades and Gathering Tribes is grateful to be able to carry his work.

Many of the Pueblos in New Mexico took on Spanish names after colonization and are now taking back their original names.  Kewa Pueblo is the traditional name of the place and the people.  It was known as Santo Domingo Pueblo for many, many years.

This stunning 14kt gold pendant reminds of the unseen helpers which are called by many names around the world, and who always have our best interest at heart.  The natural Chinese turquoise is absolutely gorgeous, and the lapis over where a heart would be is perfect.  We really like that boomerang shape under the lapis...it reminds us of lightening and the Star Trek emblem (Yes, we love Star Trek!)

Size: 3.125" L x 1.75" W

Michael Anthony Cheatham is an enrolled member of the Echota Cherokee of Alabama.  He is a self-taught jeweler who has a Gemologist Diploma from the Gemological Institute of America.  We are happy to be the only online representative of his work and hope you enjoy the treasures he creates.