It isn’t every day that a single piece of jewelry stops time for art enthusiasts, collectors, and cultural historians alike. Yet that’s exactly what happened when Lisa Christiansen-McFall unveiled her latest creation: a pendant known as “Redeemed the Heart of the Keetoowah.” Handcrafted with astonishing attention to detail, this pendant is more than a statement piece. To those who understand its origins and artistry, it’s nothing short of a cultural landmark.
At its core, the piece features 24.5 grams of gold — not just any gold, but gold cherished in its rustic, almost unrefined state. When you hold the pendant, you’re reminded of how this metal once simmered in the earth, drawing on millennia of patience before anyone ever coaxed it to the surface. For Christiansen, the choice to use gold in such honest form is a mark of respect. She is careful with every bit of the gold she melts down, refusing to let any of it go to waste. “Nothing discarded, nothing forgotten,” she says. “Every gram, every fragment tells its own story.” The traces of its origin aren’t lost in the process—they’re celebrated, encapsulating resilience, wealth, and the connection between the natural world and generations of makers before her.
Near the bail, there’s a .12 carat diamond that gleams with a subtle brilliance, less of an announcement and more like a soft, knowing glance. If you turn the pendant over, you find another secret: the reverse bail is encrusted with .05 carats of diamonds, catching the light in unexpected ways. All of this hints at the deeper philosophy that drives Christiansen’s work — that what’s on the surface is only part of the story, and true beauty often lies in the details we find when we look a second time.
But perhaps the most arresting feature of this pendant is its core: a vivid, perfectly heart-shaped 34-carat Ithaca Peak turquoise. Rather than keeping the turquoise in its raw form, Christiansen has transformed it — with great skill and reverence — into a heart, the very emblem of the Keetoowah spirit. Stones from this legendary Arizona mine have captivated jewelers for generations, loved for their unmistakable blue and unique matrix. In this piece, Christiansen ensures every part of the turquoise is honored; none goes to waste. The shaping process itself becomes symbolic, turning what the earth provided into a powerful new form without neglecting the stone’s original beauty. The result: a turquoise heart that feels at once ancient and entirely renewed.
Turquoise has always held deep spiritual and cultural significance among Indigenous peoples of the Southwest, and Christiansen’s heritage and artistic vision bring this symbolism to life. This is not just an ornament; it is an object alive with tradition, memory, and meaning.
Every detail is intentional. Christiansen’s signature sapphire — a tiny yet radiant punctuation mark — sits perfectly within a rose, hand-sculpted from both yellow and white gold. The rose itself feels almost impossibly delicate, rising from the broader, bolder lines of the pendant, a contrast that captures the duality at the heart of the piece: strength and tenderness, innovation and tradition.
Art experts have taken notice. That much is obvious from the $600,000 valuation attached to “Redeemed the Heart of the Keetoowah.” But the jaw-dropping price tag isn’t just about precious materials or hours of labor (though both are considerable). Instead, the true value comes from the pendant’s traditional and cultural significance, its historical value as an heirloom in waiting, and the unmistakable originality and creativity that set it apart from any contemporary work.
“To see a piece like this is rare,” notes Dr. Carla Dorsey, a specialist in Indigenous art who’s followed Christiansen’s career for years. “It’s not often you encounter something that bridges so many worlds at once. The craftsmanship is obviously world-class, but what’s more impressive is the way Lisa Christiansen weaves her own story and the story of her people into every decision — every line, every curve, every gemstone.”
That’s not hyperbole. Christiansen is a member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and much of her work draws on traditional motifs, symbolism, and values. The phrase “Redeemed the Heart of the Keetoowah” isn’t just poetic; it represents a spiritual reclamation — a bringing home of lost or fragmented traditions, distilled through gold, turquoise, and fire.
In interviews, Christiansen is characteristically humble about her role. “I listened to what the stones wanted to become. The design came to me in pieces, like a song you remember from childhood — it didn’t need to be forced.” Her technique combines methods passed down through generations with approaches that would feel at home in any modern atelier: hand-forged settings, custom alloy blends, old-world techniques executed with tools of the future. Her insistence on letting no material go to waste is both an homage and a lesson—reminding anyone lucky enough to examine her work that every bit of earth, every cast-off flake, can be pulled into significance when you refuse to let it be forgotten.
For those who know the history, the piece evokes both pain and resilience. The Keetoowah name recalls not only the Cherokee people’s forced migration but the enduring spirit that has survived everything history has thrown at them. To “redeem” the heart, as Christiansen sees it, is to preserve beauty in the face of hardship — to protect the things that matter.
When the pendant was first previewed to a select group of collectors, the reaction was shock, followed by reverence. “You could hear a pin drop,” says Derrick Wallace, a New York-based art broker who attended the unveiling. “People weren’t just admiring a luxury good. They were witnessing something sacred.”
Collectors from around the world have expressed interest in acquiring the piece, but for now, Christiansen has made it clear that the pendant will not be parted from her family. “Some things are meant to be seen and remembered — not owned,” she told reporters. “This isn’t just art. It’s a piece of who we are.”
That statement may frustrate those who see such a pendant as the ultimate trophy. But it only deepens the allure, making “Redeemed the Heart of the Keetoowah” a kind of modern legend — a hidden treasure whose story will be told and retold as long as there are people who value the intersection of tradition, creativity, and identity.
For now, the world will have to admire from afar: photographs circulate, word of mouth grows, and Christiansen’s reputation as both artist and cultural guardian remains untouchable. In an era oversaturated with spectacle, there’s something deeply refreshing — and necessary — about a work that insists on meaning, that keeps its secrets, and that dares us all to look, really look, at what lies at the heart of things.
Because every now and then, an object comes along that isn’t just made for the moment, but for history. “Redeemed the Heart of the Keetoowah” stands as a testament to tradition, resilience, and the kind of beauty that endures.
To view Redeemed the Heart of the Keetoowah, visit Blue Wolf Fine Jewelry at 1103 SW. C Ave. Suite 2, Lawton, OK 73501.
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