{"product_id":"sky-herald-kingman-navajo-pendant-richard-yazza","title":"Sky Herald by Richard Yazza","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome thunderbirds are symbols.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis one feels like it just landed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRichard Yazza has a gift for giving motion to silver, and this pendant is one of the strongest examples I’ve handled. At nearly \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4 inches across and 4 inches tall\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, it doesn’t just depict a Thunderbird—it commands the space around it. Every feather has been deeply carved and sculpted, creating layers that catch the light differently as the piece moves. The wings feel alive.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen there’s the turquoise.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe large center cabochon of natural \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKingman turquoise\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e anchors the entire composition, while eleven smaller stones flow through the wings and head like flashes of blue sky woven into the feathers. It’s restrained enough to let the silverwork shine, but bold enough that your eye never leaves it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is why Richard Yazza’s work has become so collectible. His pieces are unmistakably Navajo, but they also carry a sculptural quality that separates them from production jewelry. Nothing here is accidental—the carving, the symmetry, the negative space, even the proportion of the bail to the body of the bird has been considered.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLarge statement pendants by Richard Yazza have become increasingly desirable among collectors because they’re wearable sculpture. Add the exceptional scale, heavy \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e86-gram\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e construction, high-grade Kingman turquoise, and museum-level craftsmanship, and you have the kind of piece that doesn’t stay available for very long.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome jewelry finishes an outfit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis changes the room.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact Registry\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtifact Name:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSky Herald\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaker:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Richard Yazza\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTribe\/Origin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Navajo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sterling Silver, natural Kingman Turquoise\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately 4” wide × 4” tall\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWeight:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 86 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEra:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Contemporary\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Gallery Value:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e$2,800–3,500\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEstimated value for an equivalent work offered through a premier gallery or specialist Native American art dealer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eField Observation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn exceptional large-format Thunderbird pendant featuring deeply sculpted feather work, multiple accent cabochons, and a substantial Kingman centerpiece. Richard Yazza has become well known for his bold Thunderbird compositions, with comparable large signed pendants often offered in the $775–1,300 retail range for smaller examples, while exceptional oversized works command significantly stronger prices because of their scale, craftsmanship, and collector appeal.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEric’s Notes from the Field\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI’ve always loved Thunderbirds because they somehow manage to be ancient and modern at the same time.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA hundred artists can make one.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVery few can make one that feels like it’s about to leave your hand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat’s the difference here. The feathers aren’t decoration—they’re movement. The turquoise isn’t just a stone—it’s the sky the bird belongs to.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is one of those pieces you wear when you want people to stop mid-sentence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47716692525233,"sku":null,"price":1999.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0153\/9641\/files\/Sky_Herald_by_Richard_Yazza.webp?v=1784328904","url":"https:\/\/hespera.com\/products\/sky-herald-kingman-navajo-pendant-richard-yazza","provider":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}