Featured Update on Delbert Gordon Navajo Pendant w/ Missing Claw

I so appreciate everyone's compliments on my husband's hickory claw. I read the latest comments to him while he was eating breakfast--they made his day!

 

Thank you again, AJ. I rarely wear jewelry anymore, but I definitely would have worn this necklace when I lived in Southern California during the 1970s when Native American jewelry was at the peak of its popularity. Now I get a lot of personal satisfaction out of just finding, researching (with the help of Antiquers), restoring, and inventorying vintage jewelry for future selling.

 

Just as much fun as wearing it, maybe even more.

 

That’s exactly the right chain, works perfectly.

 

either chain works well.....

the claw adds a nice color.....

 

Looks like it belongs there, and too my eyes works better than a real claw.

 

Your husband did a great job with the claw and the pendant looks gorgeous.

A braided leather necklace would also be a good option. My sister collects NA jewelry and recently bought a pendant from a NA artist that was hung on a braided leather cord. It looked something like this bracelet.

 

Thank you, PepperAnna, I'll pass your comments along to my husband. The round braided leather cord is a really nice idea. I like your example much better than the mass-produced examples I've seen online. If I could find some nice leather strands I'd try making one (I'll probably have to watch a YouTube video, though for making a 4-strand round braid). I think Michaels Crafts sells the round metal end cap fasteners. I have some artisan-made pendants without chains, and a braided leather cord would look really nice, so thank you again for posting your idea.

 

This was the exact thing I was picturing. Probably a bit less expensive than the (more accurate?) solid silver. Might be lighter too for long wear.

 

Looks like what I was thinking too. Those chunky pendants always look all wrong on normal chains.

 

truly magnificent work by your husband.

 

Thank you, Roshan. My husband thanks you also. I should have mentioned earlier that he specifically chose a section of hickory near a knot to get the darker color and grain pattern. It's difficult to carve (especially near a knot), but its hardness makes it perfect for this pendant. Hickory is used for ax and tool handles (among many other things), and the proverbial hickory stick/paddle as in the old School Days song, "reading and writing and 'rithmatic, taught to the tune of the hickory stick."

 

Your husband does beautiful work, @Joan . He's very talented!

 

Thank you...my husband is surprised people are still commenting on his work...this is his smallest project. He was a custom furniture maker in the 70s-90s when we lived in California, and has made furniture for our home and our children's homes.

 

I am sure he is a great furniture maker, it is the years of experience which makes you take these decisions, to know which part of the hickory to chose etc. and that has shown in this pendant.

 

It is worth the positive comments! I only look at a small portion of posts in any one day. I do log in here almost every day, but don't really have time to sit for very long. I'm sure that others have the same pattern. Anyway, sometimes my comments are posted later than others.

 

Mine too!
But I’m going to add my applause too as he has done a lovely job on the claw. I love the way he has used the grain and colours in the wood, it almost looks like Tigers Eye stone at first glance