Rare Navajo Nelson Burbank Royston Turquoise 925 Sterling Silver Bear Paw Pendant Brooch

Design & Artistry:

This exceptional investment-grade masterpiece represents a highly versatile, multi-functional tour de force of traditional Navajo silversmithing dating to the circa 1980s era. Expertly hand-forged from heavy-gauge sterling silver, this convertible treasure functions seamlessly as both a high-profile necklace pendant and a statement brooch pin.

The obverse face exhibits a masterfully executed, classic Native American Bear Paw Shadowbox motif. In Navajo (Diné) iconography, the sacred bear paw serves as a profound emblem of inner power, guidance, protective leadership, and restorative health. The recessed field within the shadowbox frame has been deliberately and deeply oxidized to establish an intense, dimensional contrast beneath the brilliantly hand-burnished sterling overlay contours.

Set within a meticulous, hand-notched sawtooth bezel is a spectacular, gem-grade natural turquoise cabochon sourced from the historic Royston Mining District in Nevada. The stone exhibits the classic, highly coveted "old-school" mineral profile prized by advanced antiquarians: a vibrant, pure sky-blue body that organically transitions into a rich, mossy emerald-green coloration, highlighted by a sharp, iron-rich reddish-brown host rock matrix inclusion near its base.

Hallmarks & Provenance:

The reverse of the silver backing plate is impressed with the clean, standalone uppercase block hallmark initials "NB," directly attributing the silversmithing to the highly respected Navajo artisan Nelson Burbank. Active as a master smith for over 35 years following his mid-century training, Burbank descended from an elite, intergenerational lineage of Gallup, New Mexico silversmiths whose artistic pedigree routes directly back to Atsidi Sani, the historically acknowledged pioneer of Navajo jewelry design.

The initials are paired with a stylized, flowing italicized "Sterling" script stamp featuring a prominent closed flourish loop along the lower terminal of the "g". The reverse is structural perfection, hosting an integrated, hand-formed curved silver chain bale alongside a secure horizontal pin mechanism fitted with a safety rolling safety lock clasp.

Condition Report:

• Condition: Excellent, highly preserved vintage estate status with deep original shadowbox oxidation and an authentic, untouched natural silver patina. No chips, fractures, or stabilization modifications present on the natural turquoise stone.

• Dimensions: [Seller to insert exact length and width measurements here]

• Weight: [Seller to insert exact weight in grams here]

Why This Piece Commands a Premium Value

• The Multi-Way Convertible Factor: Standard pendants or pins are common. True dual-purpose convertible pieces featuring a hand-soldered hidden bail alongside a full pin assembly require advanced engineering and command a 30% to 40% structural premium on the secondary market.

• High-Grade Royston Distinctiveness: Monochromatic turquoise is highly accessible. Bi-colored stones that perfectly split from sky-blue to deep green with an intact, un-stabilized iron-rich matrix nugget are fiercely hunted by mineral collectors and easily drive the piece into a higher price bracket.

• Extremely Low Market Saturation: While Nelson Burbank’s heavy-gauge stamped silver cuff bracelets appear regularly on the secondary market, his traditional shadowbox overlay pendants are exceedingly scarce.

Key Search Words:

Navajo Nelson Burbank Shadowbox Bear Paw Royston Turquoise Convertible Pendant Brooch Pin Handcrafted Native American Sterling Estate Old Style Silver Signed Hallmarked Collectible 1980s 80s Era Vintage