Trends
touts. And their symbolism evokes
power and strength beyond a “west-
ern” theme, as silver artisan Michele
Sonner of Michou, in Lake Tahoe,
California, captures in her wild horse
pendants, particularly Mother and
Colt design in her latest Magical Me-
nagerie Collection.
“You don’t have to be an eques-
trian to like the style,” cheers Vincent
Peach. While the Nashville, Tennessee-
based designer lives on a horse ranch,his infl uence is creating jewelry that
can roll with an active lifestyle. “My
jewelry is meant to be lived in,” he
says, citing as an example the Trojan
horse coin, emblematic of his ranch,
that he wears on braided leather
necklace with pearl that he hasn’t
taken off in fi ve years.
Peach says his Equestrian and
Southwest Collections are among
his bestsellers, also adapting familiar
shapes like the horseshoe, stirrup. andsnaffl e bit into contemporary de-
signs. A descendant of a long line of
jewelers and pearl men, Peach brings
a unique slant to this genre in his
use of pearls with leather and gold,
silver and diamonds. His Southwest
Collection, with Native American fl air,
also incorporates Sleeping Beauty
Turquoise from Arizona, authentic Na-
tive American arrowheads, fossilized
stones, and antler carvings framed in
diamonds.
“The relaxed, versatile nature of
western style makes it timeless,” de-
scribes Peach. Important in his work,
he says is multi-function, like his lariat,
bolo, and wrap style necklaces and
bracelets.
NATIVE ROOTS
Artisan Shane Hendren says he
doesn’t quite get the fascination
with western style, as he has always
dressed this way.
“It’s my time! That’s what I’ve been
telling people,” quips the Albuquer-
que, New Mexico-based artist. “No
matter where I go, I dress the same —
cowboy hat and boots, button down
shirt, jeans. People ask me, ‘What are
you?’ To which I respond, ‘Human.’ But
I understand their inquires. My brown
eyes and bronze complexion allude to
my indigenous heritage.”
For Hendren, there has never been a
diff erentiation between cowboys and
Indians. “We are one and the same,”
he describes. “My indigenous ances-
tors embraced horses and cattle from
the time they arrived to this continent,
and my Irish ancestors love of horses
still runs through our veins. We are the
caretakers of the land, because with-
out the land we have no life. My jewelry
represents this. My work is rooted in
these traditions and I’ve been able to
develop a style that melds my diverse
background into one balanced and
harmonious design.”Shane HendrenBolo and Buckle
Peru turquoise, sterling silver, goldPHOTO: COURTESY SHANE HENDREN24 LAPIDARY JOURNAL JEWELRY ARTIST