Jan Loco Silver and Gold “Medicine” Pendant [SOLD]

This powerful pendant, titled "Medicine," is a striking example of the mixed-metal artistry of Apache jeweler Jan Loco. The design is deeply rooted in her rediscovered ancestral heritage. The pendant features a sterling silver platform (.925) embellished with designs crafted from a gold Karat purity mixture of 14K (58.3% pure gold) and 18K (75.0% pure gold).

Jan Loco utilized her signature technique of texturing the silver platform before expertly applying the gold designs. The use of a mixed-karat gold blend (14k and 18k) was employed, by her own understanding, to ensure a more solid and suitable medium for her intricate design work.

The piece is dominated by flowing, organic lines that evoke movement and nature: Two wavy gold bars flow outward from a central hole in the silver. The top features a solid gold droplet and a delicate gold wire spiral. Near the base of the pendant, two complementary gold bars curve and anchor the design. The pendant is currently hung from a leather strap.

The pendant is clearly documented with the artist's etchings: the title is "Medicine". The back is stamped with her signature J. Loco, the metal purities of 14k, 18k gold, and .925 sterling silver.

Jan Loco's jewelry career began in the 1980s, fueled by a profound journey of self-discovery. Adopted at a young age, Loco did not learn of her Apache heritage until she was an adult. This discovery revealed her to be the great-granddaughter of Chief Loco, one of the last Apache chiefs, who was imprisoned by the U.S. government in Florida in 1886.

Following this revelation, Loco immersed herself in the history and legends of her culture. Her subsequent jewelry creation became a way to express this heritage, with each piece incorporating designs deeply meaningful to the Apache culture. While highly sought after, Jan Loco has not been producing jewelry in recent years, having departed New Mexico some time ago; her current whereabouts are publicly unknown.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: this Jan Loco Silver and Gold "Medicine" Pendant is from the collection of a client from Santa Fe who purchased it directly from the artist around 2000.

Recommended Reading: Indian Jewelry of the American Southwest by Sarah Peabody and William Turnbaugh

TAGS: Southwest Indian Jewelry, Apache, Jan Loco