RARE Coral and Sterling Silver Earrings and Pendant Set [SOLD]

Mary Marie Yazzie Lincoln comes from a notable family of silversmiths. Her parents, Chee and Elsie Yazzie, lived and worked at Zuni Pueblo at Kelsey’s Trading Post in the 1940s as silversmiths. They had 13 children and nine of them became silversmiths. Mary Marie’s work is characterized by the use of high quality stones which are set in clean, precise settings of silverwork. She uses silver as a frame to bring out the natural beauty of the stones.

This Navajo-made set features a pair of earrings and a stunning pendant, both in the style referred to as cluster work. The artist has taken deep red coral cabs and set them in handmade bezels. The earrings are shaped in a crescent-like half-moon, each one containing 6 brilliant red pieces of coral and four sterling silver balls. The center stone is surrounded by a small twisted wire. The pendant features nine stones surrounding a larger central piece. The workmanship on Mary Marie’s pieces is exquisite, making her work quite collectible.  Each of the three pieces is stamped with the artist’s name - her hallmark, MARY MARIE.

Condition: this Coral and Sterling Silver Earrings and Pendant Set is in excellent condition

Provenance: In 1948, Maria Martinez’s son, Popovi Da opened the Popovi Da Studio at San Ildefonso Pueblo. He and his wife, Anita, ran the studio for decades. They featured and sold only the highest quality artwork. When they closed the studio, this was part of the remaining inventory. It was passed down to a granddaughter of Popovi and Anita, from whom we obtained it.

Recommended Reading: Navajo Jewelry: A Legacy of Silver and Stone by Lois Jacka