Sterling silver was mill rolled into two gauges of sheet, the thicker of which was cut and curved to serve as the pendant body and attached loop bale. The lighter gauge was then carefully cut to open a design which was then soldered to the back plate, leaving no gaps and this back sheet visible.
The artist then skillfully used an engraving tool with which he created a flowing texture by manually rocking the cutting tip back and forth as he pushed it forward within the contours of his cut out. Afterward this "negative" area was oxidized in the final stage of finishing.
Lighter gauge sheet was also cut to form bezels for three square-cut natural Blue Gem mine turquoise stones measuring 5/32" X 5 / 32" each. Natural round cut Mediterrean coral is flushed set in the two bezels spaced between.
Sterling chain was made in Italy and comes with the pendant.
Description | Sterling silver was mill rolled into two gauges of sheet, the thicker of which was cut and curved to serve as the pendant body and attached loop bale. The lighter gauge was then carefully cut to open a design which was then soldered to the back plate, leaving no gaps and this back sheet visible. The artist then skillfully used an engraving tool with which he created a flowing texture by manually rocking the cutting tip back and forth as he pushed it forward within the contours of his cut out. Afterward this "negative" area was oxidized in the final stage of finishing. Lighter gauge sheet was also cut to form bezels for three square-cut natural Blue Gem mine turquoise stones measuring 5/32" X 5 / 32" each. Natural round cut Mediterrean coral is flushed set in the two bezels spaced between. Sterling chain was made in Italy and comes with the pendant. |
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About the Artist | (1925-2007, Spider Clan, Hopi) Norman Honie, Sr. learned to work in metal at the Hopi Silvercraft Cooperative Guild. Not until the 1960's did he begin to make jewelry. Also a katsina doll carver, Honie, Sr. was the recipient of numerous awards including a First Place award at the Hopi Show at the Museum of Northern Arizona in 1967. His work is in museum collections and was published in Arizona Highways magazine in the June 1971 issue. Honie's hallmark is a spider design. |
Culture | American Indian, Hopi |
Medium | Sterling silver, natural turquoise, coral |
Troy ounces | 1.16 troy ounces |
Size | Chain is 23" in length. Pendant is 2 11/16" X 1 3/8" (maximum width). |
Signed | spider hallmark |
Date of creation | Circa 1970 |
Condition | Excellent |
Turquoise | Natural Blue Gem mine turquoise |
Description | The design and corresponding rocker engraving technique are unmistakably the signature work of Norman Honie Sr. |
Design | Its design is one of a kind expression in silver |
Provenance | KW |
Gram weight | 36.2 grams |