The hardest thing to capture in silver isn’t movement.
It’s joy.
Every bird in this necklace feels alive. Some perch quietly among flowering branches. Others seem to have landed only for a moment before taking flight again. There is an unmistakable warmth to the work—something that goes beyond technical mastery and enters the realm of storytelling.
That’s the gift of Derrick and Nichelle Edaakie.
Their jewelry has become instantly recognizable because they don’t simply inlay stone—they compose scenes. Every feather, leaf, eye, and branch is individually hand-cut from natural shell and stone, then fitted together with astonishing precision until the silver disappears and the image takes over.
This remarkable work reimagines the squash blossom necklace through the Edaakies’ own artistic language. Rather than traditional blossoms, the necklace unfolds as a procession of hand-inlaid songbird medallions, culminating in an extraordinary openwork crescent centerpiece where a brilliant cardinal rests among shimmering mother-of-pearl leaves. It honors one of the Southwest’s most iconic jewelry forms while creating something entirely original.
This isn’t simply a necklace.
It’s one of those rare pieces that blurs the line between jewelry and fine art.
Artifact Registry
Artifact Name: Songbirds at First Light
Maker: Derrick & Nichelle Edaakie
Tribe/Origin: Zuni Pueblo
Era: Contemporary
Materials: Sterling Silver, Mediterranean Coral, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, Jet, Mother-of-Pearl, Abalone Shell
Construction: Hand-fabricated sterling silver Zuni Inlay Squash Blossom Style Necklace featuring handmade silver beads, multiple pictorial bird inlay medallions, and a large openwork crescent centerpiece with intricate mosaic inlay.
Condition: Excellent condition.
Collector’s Gallery Value: $9,000
Estimated gallery offering price for an exceptional example by Derrick & Nichelle Edaakie presented through a premier Native American art gallery specializing in museum-quality contemporary jewelry.
Field Observation
Derrick and Nichelle Edaakie are among the foremost contemporary Zuni inlay artists, continuing one of the Southwest’s most celebrated family traditions. Their pictorial inlay work is distinguished by remarkable precision, expressive compositions, and a mastery of natural materials. This necklace belongs to their rare “Squash Blossom Style” series, replacing traditional blossoms with narrative bird medallions while preserving the iconic crescent centerpiece. The combination of exceptional lapidary craftsmanship, sculptural design, and rarity places this among the finest contemporary interpretations of the squash blossom tradition. Comparable examples have been documented through specialist dealers and major auction houses, though works of this scale and artistic complexity are seldom encountered.
Eric’s Notes from the Field
There are artists whose work gets better every time you look at it.
The first time you notice the birds.
The second time you notice the leaves.
Then the tiny eyes.
The curve of a branch.
The way every species has its own posture and personality.
That’s when you realize you aren’t looking at a necklace anymore.
You’re looking at thousands of tiny decisions made by artists who refused to compromise.
Those are the pieces I chase
The hardest thing to capture in silver isn’t movement.
It’s joy.
Every bird in this necklace feels alive. Some perch quietly among flowering branches. Others seem to have landed only for a moment before taking flight again. There is an unmistakable warmth to the work—something that goes beyond technical mastery and enters the realm of storytelling.
That’s the gift of Derrick and Nichelle Edaakie.
Their jewelry has become instantly recognizable because they don’t simply inlay stone—they compose scenes. Every feather, leaf, eye, and branch is individually hand-cut from natural shell and stone, then fitted together with astonishing precision until the silver disappears and the image takes over.
This remarkable work reimagines the squash blossom necklace through the Edaakies’ own artistic language. Rather than traditional blossoms, the necklace unfolds as a procession of hand-inlaid songbird medallions, culminating in an extraordinary openwork crescent centerpiece where a brilliant cardinal rests among shimmering mother-of-pearl leaves. It honors one of the Southwest’s most iconic jewelry forms while creating something entirely original.
This isn’t simply a necklace.
It’s one of those rare pieces that blurs the line between jewelry and fine art.
Artifact Registry
Artifact Name: Songbirds at First Light
Maker: Derrick & Nichelle Edaakie
Tribe/Origin: Zuni Pueblo
Era: Contemporary
Materials: Sterling Silver, Mediterranean Coral, Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, Jet, Mother-of-Pearl, Abalone Shell
Construction: Hand-fabricated sterling silver Zuni Inlay Squash Blossom Style Necklace featuring handmade silver beads, multiple pictorial bird inlay medallions, and a large openwork crescent centerpiece with intricate mosaic inlay.
Condition: Excellent condition.
Collector’s Gallery Value: $9,000
Estimated gallery offering price for an exceptional example by Derrick & Nichelle Edaakie presented through a premier Native American art gallery specializing in museum-quality contemporary jewelry.
Field Observation
Derrick and Nichelle Edaakie are among the foremost contemporary Zuni inlay artists, continuing one of the Southwest’s most celebrated family traditions. Their pictorial inlay work is distinguished by remarkable precision, expressive compositions, and a mastery of natural materials. This necklace belongs to their rare “Squash Blossom Style” series, replacing traditional blossoms with narrative bird medallions while preserving the iconic crescent centerpiece. The combination of exceptional lapidary craftsmanship, sculptural design, and rarity places this among the finest contemporary interpretations of the squash blossom tradition. Comparable examples have been documented through specialist dealers and major auction houses, though works of this scale and artistic complexity are seldom encountered.
Eric’s Notes from the Field
There are artists whose work gets better every time you look at it.
The first time you notice the birds.
The second time you notice the leaves.
Then the tiny eyes.
The curve of a branch.
The way every species has its own posture and personality.
That’s when you realize you aren’t looking at a necklace anymore.
You’re looking at thousands of tiny decisions made by artists who refused to compromise.
Those are the pieces I chase
