07-12-2019 06:32 AM
Good Morning to all!
Thank you in advance. I discovered this sterling pendant by the Navajo artist Willie Yazzie. I have searched Navajo symbols and could not find this one.
Does anyone know what the symbols represents? Thanks so much for your time.
Best,
Mary Jay e
07-12-2019 09:01 AM
07-12-2019 09:19 AM
It doesn't look to me like a Navaho design - it looks more Inuit or one of the Pacific Northwest Tribes like the Quileute (the ones that make totem poles).
07-12-2019 10:46 AM
If it's definitely a Willie Yazzie piece it's Navajo. There is a large family of Yazzies, many of whom are jewelry artisans.
https://americanindian.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/item?id=890
07-12-2019 12:05 PM
I should say a HUGE Yazzie family.
07-12-2019 12:38 PM
07-12-2019 12:56 PM
07-12-2019 01:08 PM
More Yazzie:
Glittering World: Navajo Jewelry of the Yazzie Family
07-12-2019 01:36 PM
Just for fun I checked and there are almost 1800 pieces of jewelry on Ebay right now, by one member or another of the Yazzie family.
07-12-2019 02:49 PM
I looked at Navajo symbols on several websites, as well as symbol charts on Google Images. What I'm seeing is an overall Thunderbird impression, incorporating other symbols for rain/rain-clouds, rainbows, and leaves. On some of the charts rain/rain-clouds = prosperity; leaves = lightness (stacked triangles); rainbows (shoulders of the mirror image connected to the downward bars) = happiness.
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My guess as to the theme is Thunderbird's protection and strength expressed through rain/prosperity, leaves/lightness, and rainbows/happiness.
The subjective nature of an artist's work allows the combination of multiple symbols to construct and express an overall concept.
Them's my $0.02
A.
07-12-2019 04:08 PM
Hello to everyone!
Wow! I want to thank each and everyone for responding to me. The links are helpful. Yes, the Yazzie's are a huge family and quite prolific. I appreciate your help.
Best,
MJ
07-12-2019 04:20 PM
Sometimes Yazzie is a first name. I had some gorgeous, early Yazzie Johnson sterling & malachite earrings. He's famous. They went to a new home long ago.