This captivating necklace features a Sterling Silver Bear Pendant by Navajo Jewelry Artist Alonzo Mariano. Utilizing box construction techniques, Mariano meticulously crafted the Pendant as a hollow, three-dimensional shape, with a depth of up to 3/8 inch. The front of the bear is slightly domed, while the back is flat. The Pendant is adorned with three 12-karat gold-filled motifs, including a feather, a tipi (or tent), and a hatchet. The immediate background for these three items is textured, providing a striking contrast. Additionally, oxidized lines etch the face of the Bear, its fur, and a vertical arrow. The Pendant hangs from a V-shaped Sterling Silver Bail that has been decoratively stamped. The back of the Bail bears the artist’s hallmark, “A Mariano,” along with the word “Sterling.” This is a beautiful and exceptional piece.
The Bear Pendant has been paired with three strands of elegant cherry red Jade Rounds. The six-millimeter Jade is meticulously cut and polished to a soft sheen. It is integrated with four-millimeter golden-brown Czech Glass Faceted Bicones and four-millimeter twilight Czech Fire Polished Glass Faceted Ovals, adding translucency and subtle sparkle to the design. The stones are accentuated by eight six-by-eight-millimeter Hill Tribe Silver Sun-Print Rondelle beads, which shine along the necklace strands. At the top of the Necklace, the red Jade transitions to twilight Czech Fire Polished Glass, streamlining the silhouette and ensuring a comfortable fit. The Necklace is completed with a Sterling Silver Toggle Clasp and adorned with a Southwest Designs Sterling Charm. The piece weighs 118 grams (about 4.25 ounces) and is 19-3/4 inches long plus the Pendant, which is 2-1/2 inches long by 2-3/8 inches wide, including the 7/8-inch Bail.
Note: In the photos, the body of the Bear appears to be a slightly different silver hue than the Bail it drapes from. This is due to the angle of the light. The Bear is the same bright, shining Sterling Silver as the Bail above it.
