Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
A handcrafted sterling silver pendant featuring a vibrant, robin's-egg blue turquoise cabochon set in a traditional sawtooth bezel. The design incorporates classic Navajo silversmithing elements including silver drops (beads) and a delicate scroll or 'whiplash' wire detail.
Story
Native American silversmiths began transforming silver coins into jewelry in the 1860s. This pendant carries that legacy, using turquoise—a stone the Navajo believe is a piece of the sky that fell to earth.
Maker / Origin
While unsigned, this piece reflects the skilled hand of a Diné (Navajo) artisan. These makers are world-renowned for their 'sandcast' and hand-fabricated silverwork, often passing specific family design motifs down through generations of jewelers.
Condition & Value
The silver shows a lovely natural patina that highlights the recessed areas of the scrollwork. The turquoise appears secure in its bezel with no visible cracks. This well-preserved state maintains its full market value. Value is driven by the quality of the turquoise and the silver weight.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.