native necklace

The alley cat does her best to stay in the shadows. Contending with other night creatures, the feline also prefers to be neither seen nor heard. No wonder they call them "cat burglars!" The nocturnal nature of the notorious alley prowler is captured in beautiful detail by Balinese artisan Made Wardika. The circular pendant features a smiling crescent-moon, hand-carved from bone, with a cat of sterling silver sitting beside it. A pair of faceted garnet gemstones flank them, while the top and bottom are adorned with amethyst and peridot gems. The entire necklace receives a combination of oxidized and high-polish finishes for stunning visual contrast.

Coming from a family of carvers, Chander Kant learned the art form at an early age. He carves this pendant necklace from native kadam wood, carefully adding scales and fins to the fish for realism. The pendant centers a long beaded wood strand that slips over the head.

Artisan Roy Vindas of Costa Rica designs and handcrafts this sterling silver pendant necklace of a frog inspired by pre-Hispanic art. The artisan says about his motivation: "I learned to appreciate pre-Hispanic art thanks to my father, whose work as a goldsmith focused in that area. This piece is inspired by the jewelry made by Costa Rican natives that is exhibited in the Gold Museum of Costa Rica. The frog is considered as the God of fertility, wealth and health, as its appearance announces the arrival of the rainy season, a propitious time for sowing."

Artisan Roy Vindas of Costa Rica designs and handcrafts this sterling silver pendant necklace of an eagle inspired by pre-Columbian art. The artisan says about his motivation: "I learned to appreciate pre-Columbian art thanks to my father, whose work as a goldsmith focused in that area. This piece is inspired by the jewelry made by Costa Rican natives that is exhibited in the Gold Museum of Costa Rica. The eagle is considered a symbol of power. It was believed that eagles took the soul of their prey to heaven."

This dolphin carries as many shades of blue as the ocean itself. Costa Rican artisan, Angel Castellanos, draws inspiration for his detailed hand-blown glass pieces from the natural diversity native to his homeland.