Born in 1955, Delbert Gordon is a self-taught silversmith who grew up in Tohatchi, New Mexico. He specializes in Traditional Revival designs and always works with fine, natural turquoise. He was instrumental in the silversmithing training of his nephew Derrick Gordon, whose pieces also appear on this website. This six-stone cross pendant is set with natural, untreated Morenci turquoise and swings freely from a large, deep-stamped bale strung on two strands of Kingman turquoise. At the top of the Kingman strands, long handmade cylindrical Sterling cones gather the strands of turquoise before the necklace terminates in a run of Sterling beads to the catch. An oxidizing agent was used to darken the silverwork and give this piece an "old time" finish. This is a collaborative effort between Delbert Gordon, who did all the silversmithing of the component pieces involved in this necklace, and Juanita Skeets who did the final stringing of the necklace. Hallmarked on the back of the pendant with a large capital "D" with a spur extending from it and "Gordon" in smaller letters beneath surrounded by a trailing banner. Also stamped "Sterling". Morenci stones on pendant: six stones ranging from 1/2" x 3/8" to 7/16" diameter to 9/16" x 5/16" Pendant dimensions (excluding bale & jump ring): 3 1/4" x 1 7/8" Pendant length (including bale & pendant): 4 1/8" Sterling cones: 1 1/2" long; 9/16" diameter Sterling beads: 1/4" running length; 5/16" diameter Length: 21 1/2" + Pendant |