Alvin Yellowhorse Navajo Cross Pendant, Night Sky, Inlay Mosaic, Sterling Silver
$2,759.00
Details
• Artist: Alvin Yellowhorse (Navajo)
• Weight: 25 grams
• Length: 2.7” with bail (2” without bail)
• Width: 1.65”
• Bail opening: 9.5 mm
• Handmade, one-of-a-kind
This exceptional cross pendant by renowned Navajo artist Alvin Yellowhorse is a powerful expression of duality. Earth and sky, grounded and infinite, brought together in a striking wearable form.
Yellowhorse is celebrated for pushing the boundaries of traditional Native American jewelry through his intricate inlay work and architectural precision. Over decades, he has become one of the most respected contemporary Navajo silversmiths, known for transforming stone into storytelling. His pieces are instantly recognizable for their mosaic-style compositions, clean symmetry, and innovative use of materials.
This pendant reflects that mastery.
The lower portion represents the “earth”, built from a meticulously constructed mosaic of natural stones. At first glance, the design appears abstract—but look closer, and a deliberate pattern emerges. Each triangular segment is individually shaped and carefully aligned with the next, separated by fine black matrix lines. This is not random—it’s engineered artistry. The entire inlay is secured using industrial-grade epoxy, ensuring both durability and a perfectly smooth, glass-like finish.
The inlay includes:
Pink coral, Red coral, Yellow jade, Carico Lake turquoise, Sleeping Beauty turquoise, Candelaria turquoise, Cripple Creek turquoise, Lone Mountain turquoise, Morenci turquoise, Wild Horse (magnesite), Lapis Lazuli, and New Lander.
The upper portion represents the “sky.”
Set in deep black Acoma jet from Zuni, the surface becomes a night sky, quiet, vast, and alive. Scattered across it are hand-inlaid celestial elements: stars, moon, and a shooting star rendered in lab boulder opal, pink and red coral and mother of pearl. Subtle accents of coral and silver add dimension and contrast, creating a sense of movement across the piece.
The cross form itself adds another layer of meaning, it is blending cultural symbolism with Yellowhorse’s signature visual language. The surrounding hand-cut sterling silver frame features organic, sculptural cutouts, giving the piece both strength and fluidity. Every edge, texture, and detail is done by hand.
This is not just jewelry, it’s a statement piece and a collector’s work of art.