Alex Sanchez Navajo Sterling & Turquoise Spirit Pot Sculpture Set View Watchlist >
- Winning Bid: $3,300.00
- 108 Bid(s) View Bid History
- High Bidder: karensb
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Lot # JB198
System ID # 26352771
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Alex Sanchez Navajo Sterling & Turquoise Spirit Pot Sculpture Set
An exceptional sterling silver and turquoise sculptural set by celebrated Navajo artist Alex Sanchez (b. 1969), signed with his Bear hallmark and stamped “Sterling.” This remarkable composition exemplifies Sanchez’s acclaimed petroglyph overlay style, inspired by ancestral rock art of the American Southwest and deeply rooted in Diné cosmology.
The spirit pot form serves as both vessel and altar—its domed, textured silver surface adorned with four natural turquoise cabochons (approx. 22.21 × 18.88 mm each) and encircled by hand-applied symbolic figures representing stars, hands, spirals, and sacred animals. The removable ladder-form pendant/brooch, symbolic of spiritual ascent, rises from the pot’s opening, while a pair of matching post-back earrings completes the ensemble. Each element functions both independently and as part of a cohesive sculptural statement—a transformation of wearable art into ceremonial object.
This rare multi-component set, meticulously hand-forged in heavy-gauge sterling silver, reflects Sanchez’s ability to unite cultural narrative, spiritual symbolism, and modern sculptural form. A powerful example of contemporary Navajo silversmithing, it embodies both the artist’s technical mastery and his reverence for tradition.
Condition
Good overall. Silver surfaces display gentle patina and light tarnish consistent with age; polishing has been left to the buyer’s discretion. Turquoise stones are secure and intact, with no visible chips or cracks.
Condition
Good overall. Silver surfaces display gentle patina and light tarnish consistent with age; polishing has been left to the buyer’s discretion. Turquoise stones are secure in their settings, with no damage.
Markings
Signed “Alex Sanchez” with Bear hallmark and stamped “Sterling.”
Specifications / Dimensions
- Earrings: 1.51 × 1.01 × 0.14 in. — 27.57 g (0.89 troy oz)
- Pendant/Brooch (ladder): 5.25 × 2 × 0.4 in. — 27.66 g (0.89 troy oz); bale 10.3 mm
- Spirit Pot: 2 in. H × 5.75 in. Dia. — 474.77 g (15.26 troy oz)
- Total Weight: approx. 530 g (17.04 troy oz)
About the Artist — Alex Sanchez (Navajo, b. 1969)
Born in Gallup, New Mexico, Alex Sanchez is a celebrated Navajo silversmith whose bold, sculptural silverwork bridges ancient symbolism and modern design. A third-generation artist, he learned his craft from his brother, noted jeweler Myron Panteah, and developed his own signature petroglyph overlay style—a contemporary homage to the ancestral rock art of the American Southwest.
His motifs—spirals, hands, celestial symbols, and sacred animals—speak to timeless Navajo themes of harmony, transformation, and connection to the earth. Working primarily in heavy-gauge sterling silver with natural turquoise, Sanchez’s work has earned numerous awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market, Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial, and Red Earth Festival. His creations are represented in leading institutions and galleries including the Heard Museum Shop, Medicine Man Gallery, and Turquoise Direct, where they are admired as wearable sculpture that bridges past and present.
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