Roy Talahaftewa Twister Kachina Pendant

Sterling Silver | Hopi

This striking pendant by acclaimed Hopi artist Roy Talahaftewa dates to circa 2010 and immediately reveals the hand of a master silversmith. Collectors of Hopi jewelry know that the finest artists are able to balance tradition with innovation, and Roy’s work consistently does both at the highest level.

Traditional Hopi jewelry is most often associated with overlay techniques developed and refined through the Hopi Silvercraft Cooperative Guild beginning in the late 1940s. The classic style features carefully cut sterling silver layered over an oxidized background, creating sharp graphic imagery with a mirror-polished finish. Roy Talahaftewa honors that tradition here, but instead of relying solely on fabricated silver sheet overlay, he incorporates tufa casting techniques that give the pendant a completely different character and depth.

The surface has the appearance of ancient petroglyph stone, echoing the carved rock imagery found throughout the Hopi mesas. Rising dramatically from the textured background is a dimensional Twister Kachina figure, sculpted in relief rather than simply cut into the silver. This raised design gives the pendant remarkable movement and presence, almost as though the figure is emerging directly from the landscape itself.

Roy’s ability to merge Hopi symbolism, sculptural form, and traditional silverworking techniques has made him one of the most respected and collectible Hopi artists working today. This pendant is an exceptional example of contemporary Hopi wearable art that remains deeply rooted in cultural tradition while pushing the boundaries of the overlay aesthetic.

Size – 3 3/8″ x 1 1/2″
Weight – 1.7 ozt