The Strawberry Gorget carries one of our favorite Cherokee stories: the story of the first strawberry. A husband and wife quarrel, and she walks away. It is the sweetness of a strawberry along her path that makes her stop, remember the love they share, and turn back home. We made this handmade copper gorget to keep that teaching close: what matters most is what we do after anger.
The design began with a custom order from a customer in Stilwell, Oklahoma, the Strawberry Capital. Our son Joshua saw that the strawberry deserved a design of its own, and our lead artist, Greg Stice, placed it front and center on a 3-inch copper gorget. It debuted at the Cherokee National Holiday in Tahlequah and sold out, then sold out again at the ATALM conference (Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums), all before it ever reached our website.
Key Benefits
- A Cherokee story you can wear: Every time you put it on, you carry a teaching about love, forgiveness, and slowing down long enough to remember what matters.
- Designed and handmade by Cherokee artists: Created by our Cherokee family in our Oklahoma studio. You know exactly who made it and where it came from.
- Easy to wear every day: At 3 inches, it is noticeable without being oversized, simple enough for everyday wear and meaningful enough for special occasions.
- A gift with a story behind it: A thoughtful choice for anniversaries, weddings, a new beginning after a hard season, or anyone from Stilwell. As we heard again and again at our booth, every girl from Stilwell needs a strawberry gorget.
- Rooted in centuries of tradition: Engraved shell and copper gorgets have been worn across the Southeast, including by the ancestors of the Cherokee, for centuries. This piece carries that form forward.
- Supports a Native-owned family business: Your purchase supports Cherokee artists and keeps our stories and our craft going for the next generation.
Product Details
- Material: Copper
- Size: 3 inches
- Design: A single strawberry, centered on the gorget
- Finish: Natural unsealed copper
- Cord or chain: Copper Chain
- Designed by: Greg Stice, Cherokee artist
- Made in: Our family studio in Oklahoma
The Story Behind the Strawberry Gorget
As our family tells it, the first man and woman became angry with one another, and the woman began walking away toward the east. Her husband's anger faded, and he followed, calling for her to come back. The Creator saw his desire to make things right and placed beautiful plants along her path, but she walked past them all. Then strawberries appeared. She stopped, tasted one, and its sweetness began to calm her anger. As she gathered the berries, she thought of her husband and the life they shared. She turned around, and the two returned home together.
We were taught that the sweetness of the strawberry reflects the sweetness of life. We learned our telling from Jules Daugherty, former Miss Cherokee and a Cherokee artist who works alongside us. Cherokee stories are carried by families and communities, so you may have heard it a little differently. In some tellings it is the Sun who helps the husband, but the heart of the story stays the same.
The Cherokee word for strawberry is ᎠᏂ (ani), pronounced roughly "ah-nee."
Read the full Cherokee story of the first strawberry on our blog.
Shipping
- Handmade in our Oklahoma studio
- Ships in approximately 2–3 business days unless otherwise noted
- Standard shipping is $7.99
- Packaged and ready for gifting
- Tracking included with every order
Care Instructions
- Keep your gorget dry and remove it before swimming or showering.
- Avoid harsh chemicals, lotions, and perfumes.
- Polish gently with a soft cloth to restore its shine.
- Copper naturally develops a warm patina over time. Many people love that aged look; others prefer to polish it bright. Either way, it is part of what makes copper special.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the strawberry mean in Cherokee culture?
In the Cherokee story of the first strawberry, the berry is what makes an angry wife stop and remember her husband, leading the two to reconcile. In our family, we were taught that the sweetness of the strawberry reflects the sweetness of life.
How big is the Strawberry Gorget?
The Strawberry Gorget measures 3 inches, a comfortable size for everyday wear.
Who makes the Strawberry Gorget?
It was designed by Cherokee artist Greg Stice and is handmade by our Cherokee family at Cherokee Copper, a Native-owned coppersmithing studio in Oklahoma.
What is a gorget?
A gorget is a pendant worn at the throat. Shell and copper gorgets have been part of Southeastern Native adornment, including among the ancestors of the Cherokee, for centuries.
Will the copper change color?
Yes. Copper naturally darkens and develops a patina over time. You can keep that look or polish it back to a bright shine with a soft cloth.
Explore more handmade Cherokee jewelry in our gorget collection.