Native American Fine Art and Jewelry

Navajo Contemporary Gaspeite and Sterling Silver Pendant by Cecil Sanders

$365

Artist: Cecil Sanders
Style: Pendant
Nation: Navajo (Diné)
Period: Contemporary
Materials: Gaspeite and Sterling Silver
Size: 2.75″ H x 1.5″ W
Item: #4991

NOTE: Pendent only. Chain not included.

In stock

Description

Traditional handmade Native American Indian Jewelry from Indigenous Pueblos of the Southwest. Guaranteed authentic. Excellent condition.

Radiating with an electric “apple green” hue, this handcrafted sterling silver pendant by Navajo artisan Cecil Sanders is a true standout piece. The focal point is a large, hand-polished gaspeite cabochon, a rare and sought-after mineral prized for its intense, neon-like saturation and earthy, brownish-black matrix. The stone is secured in a clean, contemporary bezel and framed by a sophisticated silver border featuring traditional Navajo “raincloud” or scalloped stamp work. This listing is for the pendant only; it is finished with a large, polished silver bail, making it an ideal candidate for a thick sterling chain or a strand of variegated turquoise beads.

The work of Cecil Sanders is defined by a bold, graphic sensibility that brings traditional Diné silversmithing into the modern era. While many classic pieces focus on the blue of the “Sky Stone,” Sanders often experiments with rarer materials like gaspeite and rainbow calsilica to create pieces with a high-fashion, “art jewelry” feel. The contrast between the bright, organic green of the stone and the cool, oxidized recesses of the silverwork gives this pendant a dimensional quality that demands attention. For the collector, this piece represents a sophisticated bridge between ancestral Navajo symbols and the daring, color-forward aesthetic of 21st-century Indigenous art.

About The Artist

Cecil Sanders is a renowned Navajo silversmith known for his distinctive jewelry crafted during the 1970s and 1980s. His work features vibrant turquoise, opal, and amethyst stones set in detailed sterling silver, often marked with his “CS” hallmark. Sanders skillfully blends traditional Navajo symbols—such as spirit bears, rabbits, and corn stalks—with contemporary design elements. One of his notable pieces includes a sterling bracelet engraved with spiritual motifs. In 1968, he shared insights into his life and culture in an oral history interview. Today, his work remains highly collectible and respected within the Native American art and jewelry community.

 

More About the Artist

About the Navajo (Diné) Nation

The Navajo Nation, or Diné Bikéyah, is the largest Native American reservation in the United States, spanning over 27,000 square miles across the dramatic landscapes of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The Diné (which translates perfectly to “The People”) have a profoundly rich artistic heritage and are recognized globally for their master-level silversmithing, vibrant turquoise jewelry, and intricate textile weavings. Rooted in the guiding philosophy of hózhó—a concept of walking in beauty, harmony, and balance with the natural world—Navajo artistry is a stunning reflection of their deep spiritual connection to the earth and their enduring cultural legacy.