Featured Update on Delbert Gordon Navajo Pendant w/ Missing Claw

Last week I posted photos of this pendant asking for ideas on what to do about the missing claw.


Several people offered suggestions, and reader mentioned Perry Null Trading might be able to replace the claw, so I sent them an email. Rocky responded and asked me to send a photo, which I did. Today he sent back a photo of 4 fake bear claws they sell (with a ruler for scale). I resized the photo to match an actual ruler and could see that the empty space on the pendant is more curved and shorter than the claws, so I emailed back thanking him for the photo and explained why the fake claws won't work.

Before I emailed Perry Null last week I asked my husband about possibly carving a wooden claw as a project to work on later this winter when he's looking for something to do. He asked me to draw a pattern, which I did and then I left to run some errands. When I came back, he surprised/shocked me with the finished claw carved from hickory (it took him 3 hours). I thought it looked great, so I gave it 4 coats of tung oil and some wax (haven't glued it in yet). Here's a photo.


Now I don't know what type of cord or chain to hang the pendant on since the bail is so large. I saw examples online with pendants hung on turquoise or silver bead necklaces. I have two turquoise nugget necklaces, but the stones are a different color than the pendant stones. The leather cord in the photo seems too thin. Does anyone have suggestions? And, does anyone know what the little cylindrical dangle/charm represents, or is it just a decorative element?

 

He did a beautiful job!

 

Lovely, a really sweet replacement!

 

I did not know the drum bead...meant anything..

 

He did an amazing job!! That turned out really beautiful. I love the color and the grain pattern.

You're right about using a thicker necklace. I don't know what would be traditional but for myself I'd at least try a braided leather for more thickness.

 

I didn't realize it was a drum...I think of drums looking like snare drums. Thank you for enlightening me.

 

Thank you all for your compliments--I passed them along to my husband, which made him smile.

 

He done good. It may actually be more wearable now, since the claw is made of wood. No one freaks about a wood chip being used for decoration.

 

It looks wonderful.
What a great solution!

 

Thank you, komokwa, for the Native American drum examples in jewelry. That set is amazing and something I've never seen before.

 

I've been around SW 1st Nations jewelry since the early 90's but the barrel work is not that well known to me.....still, I find it an interesting addition to the beads I'm so used to seeing...
You're most welcome !

 

An excellent solution, and animal-friendly too. Your husband did a good job, not only in shaping it so beautifully, but also his choice of wood.

Maybe a thick sterling rope chain?

 

Very nice…kudos!

 

He did a fabulous job! It's just lovely.

 

I use a heavy twisted rope chain, I agree with aj.

your other half has done a superb job.

 

Love the wooden claw, looks fabulous.

 

A clever fix and beautifully done! Thanks for sharing!

 

Thank you, AJ. A sterling rope chain sounds like a great idea (and obb agrees)--why didn't I think of that since it seems so appropriate. I have some Italian sterling chains, but none of them are thick enough, so I looked through my Mexican jewelry and found a sterling harmony/chiming ball pendant with a 30" heavy rope chain that I thought I'd swap with an Italian chain.

The rope chain clasp is only marked 925 (not Italy, not Mexico), so it seems it should be okay to use with the Navajo pendant. There's room in the bail for an even heavier chain, but this is the heaviest I have.


Here's the Mexican chiming ball pendant with the Italian rope chain replacement.

 

Looks good Joan, it complements the pendant. Now you can wear it.