While out and about enjoying beautiful color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I picked up this Raymond Kyasyousie Hopi Craft pendant. I was surprised to find a Hopi piece at a local pawn shop on the east coast
Would someone be so kind to let me know what the symbol represents? I would appreciate it.
This sounds fun, and congratulations on your beautiful pendant!
I’m of no use concerning the symbolism, other than providing my very inexperienced opinion; the overall shape resembles a prayer feather, but the rain drop(?) kind of throws a wrench into that.
Lovely pendant, @here4turquoise. Re @Ravenscry’s idea, Lema’s in Utah has a chart of Hopi jewelry symbols that shows a turkey prayer feather similar to the pendant (but no drop).
Lovely pendant, and I wouldn’t have had any idea either what it is. I have some earrings with a similar design (I think).
@chicfarmer that’s the shop in Moab we visited this past spring (I also shopped there years ago) where the owner checked with his friend JD Atkinson about my belt buckle, and then later showed us his Charles Loloma ring which he got out of his safe. I have bought a couple pair of Hopi earrings from there.
Thank you @Ravenscry Despite the dry weather we do have good color this year.
@chicfarmer I really appreciate the link to Lema’s Hopi symbols. The pendant sure looks like wild turkey prayer feather.
I found this on symbolismguide.com Maybe this is where the drop comes into play. 
@Ziacat I would love to see your similar looking earrings.
I’ll snap a pic tomorrow. TBH (don’t hate me for this) I don’t dig much into the symbolism of designs.
@here4turquoise Hi ~ Several years ago, we drove all 469 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. We began our trip in Shenandoah NP, and then drove south. We had no plans, no itinerary, no accommodations - we were just wingin’ it and that was Fabulous!! Such a beautiful, beautiful area. Would recommend visiting the BRP to everyone.
I really like your new pendant. I’ll weigh-in on the motif interpretation: imo, this is a prayer feather. The addition of the tear shaped raindrop, for me, makes this prayer feather a specific supplication for rain. Water is life. Just my 2 cents worth.
No hate here. I enjoy doing research and learning.
Thank you for your interpretation of the pendant. It’s kind of what I was thinking too.
Our property backs up to the BRP. We have been very fortunate to have lived here for the past 34 years. I don’t know that we would ever leave this area but I would not mind having a vacation home in the SW. We do have the next best thing with the travel trailer.
Thank you for posting great closeups of your beautiful pendant @here4turquoise. It’s an excellent example of clean even expert saw work, meticulous single impression background stamping, and the lovely directional sanding used to finish Hopi work and give it its rich satiny matte finish.
Thank you @mmrogers Now I feel even better about the purchase after seeing your evaluation. I bought it as we just don’t see Hopi pieces on this side of the country. Thanks again for your comments.
My pleasure @here4turquoise. Looking back over the thread, I thought it might be of interest to our members to look at the signature on the back of the pendant. It’s made with the same stamp used to texture the background, and has a characteristic shape used by Hopi silversmiths to achieve the unique effect of single point stacked parallel Hopi background stamping (not etching, engraving, or hatch marks). The stamp itself is characteristically tapered with one end larger than the other, a very slightly convex shape, and subtly rounded ends. This single stamp is used repeatedly side by side, and parallel with very precise spacing, with a single row of expertly placed stamps stacked one row over the other to create the unique textured background effect. The background stamping itself is an art form that has to be mastered to yield the desired effect, and has a mesmerizing quality, and artistic element all of its own.
Thank you for this description. I have always loved to look at those stamp marks (which I used to refer to as etching). I find my Hopi pieces have differences in how the stamps are placed directionally and in tightness; it feels like the artists have done this on purpose to give a particular look. Now I will have to check them all out again more closely.
Thank you @mmrogers for passing on your knowledge of Hopi textures. You are an absolute treasure!
Thanks once again for posting this beautiful pendant, @here4turquoise. The photo is really excellent, clear, and perfectly lit. A great closeup look at Hopi technique and craftsmanship, displaying in detail, design, form, finish, flawless saw work, perfect soldering technique, and clean expert background stamp-work.
You’re completely on the money @Ziacat. The background stamping represents an independent an individual creative design element all of its own.
