Every feather cut on its own.

The Native American Chief Pendant is a profile portrait carved in deep relief — a chief in a full feathered war bonnet, facing right, cut from the crown of the bonnet down to the shoulder.

The bonnet is the work. Rows of long feathers sweep back and down across the whole width of the piece, and each one is carved individually: a raised central quill with the vanes cut in on both sides, feather over feather in overlapping courses rather than a single textured mass. At the browline they meet a beaded band worked with a geometric triangle pattern, edged above by a course of raised granulation where the quills are bound in.

Strands of beadwork drop from the band beside the face, and a bound braid falls forward over the shoulder, cross-wrapped along its length.

The face is left in a fine satin so it holds shadow — heavy brow, deep-set eye, strong nose and cheekbone, mouth firm — while the high points of the feathers and the browband are brought up polished. That split is what makes a 2” portrait read from across a room instead of flattening out.

A wide flat bail sits above with an 8mm opening, sized for a heavy chain.

Why You’ll Love It:

• Individually Carved Feathers – Quill and vanes cut on every feather, in overlapping courses
• Beaded Browband – Geometric banding with granulated edging and hanging bead strands
• Deep Relief Portrait – Brow, eye, nose and cheekbone modelled rather than outlined
• Satin Against Polish – Matte face set off by bright feather tips and band
• Solid Gold Throughout – No stones and no plating

At 60 grams in 18K across two inches, the Native American Chief Pendant carries real weight for its footprint.

Made to order, turnaround time is typically 2-4 weeks.

Specifications

Estimated Weight by Purity