Outstanding Hopi Overlay Big Sunface Hand Made Large Pendant/pin Sterling Silver

  

This listing is made for a very large Hopi made sunface pendant, The overlay work is the give away as to whether it is Hopi or Navajo. If you zoom in you can see all the hash marks made to give this background texture.

The Navajo pieces do not have these hash marks. I have a piece I thought for sure was Hopi made but no hash marks and this I thought would be Navajo but the hash marks make the difference. This one is a beauty. Even the bale was thought to be made ornate and stamped. It's a large bale and should accommodate most chains.

It is also a pin and can be used to put on anything you choose to. This is an odd one it is signed sterling twice. One facing one way and the other another way. There is some sort of symbol on the back but after extensive looking I can't find it. In any event its a beauty.

It is quite large measuring 2 3/4" long including the bale and 1 1/2" wide. Its nice to have the choice to either wear this as a pin or you can put it on a thick chain. The bale is large enough. The weight on this is 19.5 grms. So its a good sturdy piece. This is statement piece and is sure to be noticed while wearing! The sunface is a symbol of happiness and prosperity. Overlay is a style first practiced by the Hopi. Early Hopi jewelry used stones such as turquoise along with wood, shells and seeds.

Contact with the Spaniards who came to claim the southwest for the Spanish Crown resulted in the Hopi, along with other area tribes, learning the art of silver smiths. This became an addition to their style of jewelry, one for which they would gain much renown. In the beginning the silver pieces were stamped or cast.

As time went on Hopi artists began to put their own unique talent into their work. The 1930s and 1940s saw these artists create the development of a new style which would come to be known as overlay. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to message me and I will be happy to help, especially with cuff sizes. Thanks so much for visiting my store! I try and price my items with this in mind.

The item "OUTSTANDING HOPI OVERLAY BIG SUNFACE HAND MADE LARGE PENDANT/PIN STERLING SILVER" is in sale since Saturday, March 7, 2020. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Other Native American Jewelry". The seller is "sueellenny" and is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Country of Origin: USA
• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Material: STERLING SILVER
• Handmade: Yes
• Provenance: Ownership History Not Available
• Metal Purity: 925
• Artisan: UNKNOWN makers mark
• Main Stone: No Stone
• Brand: Handmade
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• Jewelry Type: Pendants
• Tribal Affiliation: Hopi