Miscellaneous Jewelry

This vintage Navajo handmade Water Bird is also called a Peyote Bird and is an important aspect of tipi ceremonies.  Crushed natural turquoise and natural red coral is inlaid on the wings and tail of this sterling silver brooch.  We love the shiny silver heart shape between the wings. The face is detailed and there are stamp-work on the wings and tail. This was probably made in the 1970s or 80s.  "HC" is stamped behind the tail. What a find!

Size: 2" H x 1.25" W

Keep your money in style with this sterling silver money clip.  Navajo jeweler Shirley Skeets hand-stamped beautiful designs into the silver and set turquoise in a shadowbox in the center.  Just fold your bills and tuck them in to keep your money from getting crumpled.

Size: 1.75" L x .75" W

Shades of copper brown, shimmering white, red, orange, and yellow seed beads were woven together to create this Navajo handmade hair barrette.  The four cardinal directions remind us to be conscious of remaining in balance, especially in challenging situations.  The barrette on the back is metal.

Size: 3.75" L x 1.25" W - Barrette 2.5" L x .5" W 

Brown, white, black, turquoise red, and yellow beads were woven together by a Navajo artisan to create this beaded eagle feather hair barrette.  Eagle feathers are sacred to many Native American people and take our prayers to the creator.

Size: 4" L x 1.125" W - Barrette 3.25" L x .5" W

Purple, black, red, orange, yellow and white seed beads are woven together on white leather to create this dazzling design.  The barrette on the back is metal.

Size: 3.5" L x 1" W - Barrette 2.5" L x .5" W

This sterling silver Dancing Sunface Katsina is truly a masterpiece by Michael Horse.  Around the face are seventeen detailed feathers. The face is inlaid with natural stones of turquoise (Water Web Kingman), jet, red coral, angel skin coral, sugilite, lapis, and clam shell.  Even the thin black lines and clam shell are cut by hand and inlaid.  There is an armband on each arm and a sash lays diagonally over its chest. One hand holds a rattle and the other holds a squash blossom.  A sash with stamp-work is around the top of the kilt and dangles on one side with a bottom border and additional stamp-work.  The kilt is open on the bottom with the legs and moccasins extending from the opening.  There are bells above the moccasins and the moccasins have ornaments on each side. Each piece mentioned above is fabricated by hand and soldered together. Michael engraved his name on the back.  It is on black leather braided leather which is flattened on the part that goes around the neck.

Michael says this Sunface pendant and bolo are the last two Sunface jewelry pieces he will make.

Size: 4.5" H x 1.125" W - Chain 22" long

Sunface size: 4.5" H x 1.675" L x .875" W - Tips: 2" L x .5" W - Leather bolo: 46" Long

This Native Bling Key Ring has a bright blue turquoise set in a shadowbox which highlights the stone.  Intricate stamp-work surrounds the stone in a sterling silver setting.  The opening is unlatched with pressure, slip your keys on, and re-insert the latch.  Handmade by Navajo jeweler Shirley Skeets.

Size: 2.375" H x 1" W - Setting: 1.25" H x 1" W

Keep your money organized in style with this Dancer Money Clip! It is set with tiny chips of turquoise and red coral in a sterling silver setting with stamp-work.  Handmade by Navajo jeweler Raymond.

Size: 2" H x 1" W

Keep your medicines or small treasures in the beautifully crafted older sterling silver box by Navajo jeweler Jeffrey Castillo.  The top is stamped by hand all the way around with four directional stamp-work and a round turquoise in the center.  The hinge works perfectly. "Jeffrey Castillo" and "STERLING" stamped inside.

Size: .75" H x 2.25" L  x 1.75" W

This seems to be an older sterling silver pin and it is marked "Francis" on the back.  We think it may be an older Francis Begay piece.  We love the detailed face and stamped rays on each side of the turquoise.

Size: 1.375" H x 1.675" L

Navajo jeweler Lucille Platero made this well detailed Kokopelli pin with a 1" pin back.  It has a bright turquoise stone set at the waist.

Size: 1.75" H x .75" W

These eight sterling silver concho buttons would look great on a jacket, shirt, or strung on leather for a hatband.  Not handmade or Native American made, these have been casted.

Size: 1.125" L x .875" W

Vintage sterling silver buckles like this don't become available very often.  The stones are natural turquoise and red coral surrounded by two large silver leaves and scroll work.  The oxidization (black part) of the silver behind the stones, leaves, and scroll work has been worn off in some places.  The outer edge is hand-stamped.

Size: 2.25" H x 3.125 Long - Belt loop will fit up to a 1.75" wide belt

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

What a great way to keep track of your money.   Navajo jeweler, Wilbur Myers, fabricated this money clip and set turquoise and red coral into sterling silver bezels.  The feather, scrolls, and dots are all sterling silver.

Size: 1.675" L x .75" W

This striking pin/pendant is mosaic inlay made by Mary Louise Tafoya.  Like so much of Mary Louise's jewelry, it reminds us of so much of what we see in nature, waves, clouds, mountains, snow, and sunsets.  Her creations are definite conversation starters!

Size: 1.5" H x 2.5" W

This Navajo handmade shadowbox bolo tie has two sky blue natural Kingman turquoise stones set in the palm of the paw.  The back of the sterling silver shadow box has been oxidized which turns it black and dramatically sets off the stones.  The tips are sterling silver and the braided black leather is 42" long.  Imagine wearing it to all the events this year!  TN" and "Sterling" stamped on the back.  More about bears below.

Size: 2" H x 1.5" W - Braided leather 42"

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.

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!

These sterling silver Navajo handmade watch tips are beautifully made with two denim lapis stones set on each side.  This watch is included, but we aren't sure if it works.  It may just need a new battery.  And, the buyer would also want to get a band which is easy to purchase from a watch shop.  It is hallmarked on the back with an A.

Watch Tips Size: 1.5" L x 1.125" W

Do you love turtles?  Then you will love this sterling silver pin by Navajo silversmith, S. Yazzie!  The eyes are stamped, and the feet and tail are detailed.  Our favorite part is the eight repousse crescent moons on the shell, the turquoise in the center, and the detailed stamp work that remind us of moon rays in front of each moon.  The piece is slightly domed and has a pin back.  

Size: 1.875" H x 1.375" W

Turtles have their own homes on their backs which means that wherever they are, they are home.  They are associated with safety.  When attacked they retreat into their shells, although some turtles have strong enough mouths to snap a finger.  For most Native American nations in North America, turtles represent Mother Earth.  Every turtle shell has 13 sections on top which some Native Americans say represent the 13 moons of each year.