Description

Turquoise Kachina Pendant/Pin ~ Bennie Ration

This gorgeous pendant / pin was all hand crafted by Noted Navajo Artist Bennie Ration. Please ignore the reflections in the silver, it is all shiny, these are a pain to photograph. Imagine taking a sheet of sterling silver and making this!

There's an amazing amount of detail work on this pendant-It has a Kachina head with fine stamp work and the silver detailing around the stone is just wonderful, I tried to take a close up so you can see. The turquoise stone is a lovely blue with just a hint of gray matrix.
Included is a very nice 18" sterling silver chain.

It measures 1 7/8" tall by 1 3/16" at it's widest point, plus 5/8" tall bail.
It's stamped sterling and signed Bennie Ration with his eagle claw hallmark.
Pendant Weight: 15.1 grams on my scale.
I placed a quarter there for scale.

I'm so lucky to have watched this artist work! The pictures don't do justice to this quality piece. Picture and Bio Below

Bennie was born in March of 1955, on the Canoncito Navajo Reservation in New Mexico to Francis and John Ration. His father, who had been a silversmith since childhood, taught Bennie the art of silversmithing at the young age of eleven. His father told him that no mater what else he did with his life he would always have silversmithing to fall back on. Throughout his childhood Bennie was a talented artist. After he graduated from high school he enrolled in a one-year program at U.S. Silkscreen and Graphics School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Upon completion of the course he worked for three years as a silkscreen and graphic designer.

In 1978 he did “fall back” on the art of silversmithing. With a look and style that he had developed as a graphic designer, he began making three-dimensional figures in silver. His many wearable art designs include Kachina figures, Southwestern animals, feathers and Navajo inspired geometric patterns. When asked how he comes up with his designs he says, “I remember what I see and make pieces in my mind”

Sure to make a Fine addition to any collection, or a great gift!

Please note: Pictures are enlarged to show detail, remember everything looks bigger on line :)