I swear Kachinas have a way of picking who gets to take them home.
Some of them you admire, set back down, and keep walking.
Then there’s one like this.
You grab it because it’s huge. Then you realize it’s heavy. Then you flip it over, see the FG hallmark, look back at that face…and suddenly you’re standing there thinking, ”…well shit.”
That’s usually an expensive moment for me.
Why This Piece Matters
Francisco Gomez never thought small.
His work is instantly recognizable because he built jewelry the way sculptors build monuments. Every surface has something happening. The wings aren’t flat—they radiate. The body isn’t just a setting for stones—it tells a story. Every layer of silver adds depth until the figure almost feels ready to step off the leather cord.
Then there’s the stone choice.
Instead of ordinary turquoise, Gomez used New Lander, one of the most coveted American gem materials ever discovered. Its vivid blue-green color and unmistakable webbing immediately separate it from ordinary stones and give the figure an almost supernatural presence.
The coral eyes provide just enough warmth to bring the face to life without competing with the cool brilliance of the New Lander.
Everything works together.
Nothing feels accidental.
Artifact Registry
Maker: Francisco Gomez (FG)
Origin: Spanish Silversmith
Materials: Sterling Silver, Natural New Lander, Natural Coral, Leather
Weight: 145 grams
Form: Monumental Winged Kachina Bolo Tie
Collector’s Gallery Value: $4750
Curator’s Field Observation
This is an unusually large example of Francisco Gomez’s work. The dramatic fan wings immediately establish the silhouette, while the New Lander stones create rhythm from the headdress to the feet. The coral eyes become the emotional center of the piece, drawing your attention before your eye begins wandering through the engraved panels, repoussé details, and layered fabrication.
Despite weighing 145 grams, the design never feels bulky. Every component serves the composition.
It’s sculpture first.
Jewelry second.
Artifact Character Record
Name
Old Red Eyes
Occupation
Keeping an eye on people who think nobody’s watching.
Favorite Hobby
Making bad decisions suddenly seem like terrible ideas.
Warning
He’s patient.
You probably shouldn’t test whether he’s that patient.
Eric’s Notes from the Field
If this were sitting in my office, I guarantee every single person who walked in would pick it up.
Not because they collect Native jewelry.
Because humans are wired to respond to things that have presence.
This thing has presence.
It’s the kind of piece you build a collection around instead of adding to one.
I swear Kachinas have a way of picking who gets to take them home.
Some of them you admire, set back down, and keep walking.
Then there’s one like this.
You grab it because it’s huge. Then you realize it’s heavy. Then you flip it over, see the FG hallmark, look back at that face…and suddenly you’re standing there thinking, ”…well shit.”
That’s usually an expensive moment for me.
Why This Piece Matters
Francisco Gomez never thought small.
His work is instantly recognizable because he built jewelry the way sculptors build monuments. Every surface has something happening. The wings aren’t flat—they radiate. The body isn’t just a setting for stones—it tells a story. Every layer of silver adds depth until the figure almost feels ready to step off the leather cord.
Then there’s the stone choice.
Instead of ordinary turquoise, Gomez used New Lander, one of the most coveted American gem materials ever discovered. Its vivid blue-green color and unmistakable webbing immediately separate it from ordinary stones and give the figure an almost supernatural presence.
The coral eyes provide just enough warmth to bring the face to life without competing with the cool brilliance of the New Lander.
Everything works together.
Nothing feels accidental.
Artifact Registry
Maker: Francisco Gomez (FG)
Origin: Spanish Silversmith
Materials: Sterling Silver, Natural New Lander, Natural Coral, Leather
Weight: 145 grams
Form: Monumental Winged Kachina Bolo Tie
Collector’s Gallery Value: $4750
Curator’s Field Observation
This is an unusually large example of Francisco Gomez’s work. The dramatic fan wings immediately establish the silhouette, while the New Lander stones create rhythm from the headdress to the feet. The coral eyes become the emotional center of the piece, drawing your attention before your eye begins wandering through the engraved panels, repoussé details, and layered fabrication.
Despite weighing 145 grams, the design never feels bulky. Every component serves the composition.
It’s sculpture first.
Jewelry second.
Artifact Character Record
Name
Old Red Eyes
Occupation
Keeping an eye on people who think nobody’s watching.
Favorite Hobby
Making bad decisions suddenly seem like terrible ideas.
Warning
He’s patient.
You probably shouldn’t test whether he’s that patient.
Eric’s Notes from the Field
If this were sitting in my office, I guarantee every single person who walked in would pick it up.
Not because they collect Native jewelry.
Because humans are wired to respond to things that have presence.
This thing has presence.
It’s the kind of piece you build a collection around instead of adding to one.
