Cynetta Smith, Navajo
Melon Shell Bear Necklace

N775 - $125 plus s/h
(ONLY ONE AVAILABLE)

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About LomaSiiva

Loma Siiva is a brand and gallery dedicated to authentic Native American jewelry and art, focusing on helping Native artisans make a living through their talent while protecting and educating about the artistry of various tribes. The name "LomaSiiva" originates from the Hopi language and literally translates to "Hill Metal." This name reflects the brand's connection to Indigenous culture and its mission to capture the voice of Indigenous people through authentic Native American jewelry and artistry. They offer a wide range of products including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, bolo ties, and more, featuring materials like turquoise, white buffalo, coral, onyx, and sterling silver. The brand verifies that artists are bona fide members of their tribes.

The Grizzli Collection

Garris was an attorney in New York City, and was once an assistant district attorney for Queens County. It was during her legal career that she was nicknamed "Grizzli" by her colleagues for her relentless aggression in the courtroom going after white collar criminals; her late husband, David, called her "Grizzli" ever since they met, and her license plate also read"Grizzli". When Garris attended law school, she met her best friend Gila, who moved to Tucson, and it was on trips to Arizona visiting Gila that Garris fell in love with Native American jewelry, especially pieces with birds or turtles (given her nickname). David was half Cherokee, and even though Garris was very much a Jewish New Yorker without any personal connection to tribal culture or artwork, her love for David amplified her interest in Native American symbolism. Over the years, she amassed an extensive collection of southwest jewelry. We are pleased to find new homes for Grizzli's collection. Many pieces, although beautiful, are not Native American made, and that's why we are selling them here in the Bargain Barn.

Native American Bear Symbolism

Bear is considered the most powerful of all of the animals and is one of the most popular subjects of Native American carvers. Bear is a spiritual guide and represents strength and self-knowledge. Bear has supernatural powers and great healing powers. Bear is a symbol deliberate action, introspection, soul and insight for the past and the future. The Bear is the guardian of the West an is one of the animals of the Six Directions. Bears are the main figure in the Mountain Way, an important Navajo ceremony. Bear claws are a traditional adornment to pendants and bracelets.

About Melon Shell

Melon Shell comes from several melon-shaped mollusks of the genus "melo". Also called bailers or boat shell because early seafarers used large specimens of these shells to bail water from their boats. Melon shell comes in various pastel shades of cream to light brown.

About Goldstone

Goldstone is a type of man-made glittering glass. Also called aventurine glass and monkstone. The original manufacturing process for goldstone is credited to the Miotti family of seventeenth century Venice. It is basically a reddish-brown glass which contains tiny crystals of metallic copper.