Les Baker pendant in 14 kt gold w/Blue Gem Turquoise

A Les Baker original pendant. Known for his distinctive flowing wire and flower/leaf designs. This small pendant is set in yellow 14 kt gold with a single piece of Blue Gem Turquoise. Measuring 1"3/8 in length with a width of 1/2". This is a small beautiful pendant by a legendary artist. A true collectors piece.

Artist: Les Baker, southwest artist from New Mexico, was born in 1935. Les learned to silversmith in 1962.. Les Baker is extremely talented and draws out his new free-flowing designs first on paper before creating in silver. Each piece is designed around the stone. His style varies from hand stamped and repousse´ to some of his most unique pieces that have free flowing silver work designs reminiscent of those in nature. Over the years, he has had many silversmiths that have worked for him such as Fritson Toledo, Johnny Watson and Harry Sandoval. Les passed away February 13, 2014 The Blue Gem Turquoise Mine was located in the Copper Basin area southwest of Battle Mountain, Nevada, USA. Production of this turquoise mine started about 1934 and continued until the 1970's.

Stone: Blue Gem Turquoise is still some of the finest turquoise ever found, and unlike most turquoise mines, (in which the majority mined is chalky and only usable if stabilized) most of the turquoise found there was of gem-quality. There is a distinctive aqua color that some people associate with Blue Gem turquoise, although it produced a great variety of colors, especially when intense blue was combined with deep green in one stone.