{"product_id":"songbirds-at-first-light-by-derrick-and-nichelle-edaaki","title":"Songbirds at First Light - by Derrick and Nichelle Edaaki","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe hardest thing to capture in silver isn’t movement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s joy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery bird in this necklace feels alive. Some perch quietly among flowering branches. Others seem to have landed only for a moment before taking flight again. There is an unmistakable warmth to the work—something that goes beyond technical mastery and enters the realm of storytelling.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat’s the gift of Derrick and Nichelle Edaakie.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTheir jewelry has become instantly recognizable because they don’t simply inlay stone—they compose scenes. Every feather, leaf, eye, and branch is individually hand-cut from natural shell and stone, then fitted together with astonishing precision until the silver disappears and the image takes over.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis remarkable work reimagines the squash blossom necklace through the Edaakies’ own artistic language. Rather than traditional blossoms, the necklace unfolds as a procession of hand-inlaid songbird medallions, culminating in an extraordinary openwork crescent centerpiece where a brilliant cardinal rests among shimmering mother-of-pearl leaves. It honors one of the Southwest’s most iconic jewelry forms while creating something entirely original.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis isn’t simply a necklace.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s one of those rare pieces that blurs the line between jewelry and fine art.\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\u003eSongbirds at First Light\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaker:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Derrick \u0026amp; Nichelle Edaakie\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTribe\/Origin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Zuni Pueblo\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\u003eMaterials:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Sterling Silver, Mediterranean Coral, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, Jet, Mother-of-Pearl, Abalone Shell\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Hand-fabricated sterling silver \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZuni Inlay Squash Blossom Style Necklace\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e featuring handmade silver beads, multiple pictorial bird inlay medallions, and a large openwork crescent centerpiece with intricate mosaic inlay.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Excellent condition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollector’s Gallery Value:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e$9,000\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEstimated gallery offering price for an exceptional example by Derrick \u0026amp; Nichelle Edaakie presented through a premier Native American art gallery specializing in museum-quality contemporary jewelry.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eField Observation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDerrick and Nichelle Edaakie are among the foremost contemporary Zuni inlay artists, continuing one of the Southwest’s most celebrated family traditions. Their pictorial inlay work is distinguished by remarkable precision, expressive compositions, and a mastery of natural materials. This necklace belongs to their rare “Squash Blossom Style” series, replacing traditional blossoms with narrative bird medallions while preserving the iconic crescent centerpiece. The combination of exceptional lapidary craftsmanship, sculptural design, and rarity places this among the finest contemporary interpretations of the squash blossom tradition. Comparable examples have been documented through specialist dealers and major auction houses, though works of this scale and artistic complexity are seldom encountered.\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\u003eThere are artists whose work gets better every time you look at it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe first time you notice the birds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe second time you notice the leaves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen the tiny eyes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe curve of a branch.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe way every species has its own posture and personality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat’s when you realize you aren’t looking at a necklace anymore.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou’re looking at thousands of tiny decisions made by artists who refused to compromise.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThose are the pieces I chase\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47722888134833,"sku":null,"price":7499.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0153\/9641\/files\/Songbirds_at_First_Light_-_by_Derrick_and_Nichelle_Edaaki.webp?v=1784574648","url":"https:\/\/hespera.com\/products\/songbirds-at-first-light-by-derrick-and-nichelle-edaaki","provider":"Hespera Jewelry Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}