Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Navajo Turquoise Coral Bead Necklace 20g

  

We have similar Turquoise and Navajo items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Item Description by: Angela A. Age Circa: Antique Native Navajo C.

Markings: Unmarked, tested, and guaranteed. Country of Origin: United States, Navajo Nation. Color: opaque aqua-blue hue with a deep brown matrix. Stone Treatment: The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists.

Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester. Stone Cuts: Carved and polished cabochon.

Bead width: 3.97 mm to 5.54 mm. Pendant measurements: 1.67" long, 0.96" wide. Bale opening: 3.02 mm diameter. Closure/Clasp Type: Hook and eye clasp. Link Type: Beads on foxtail chain.

Handmade during the 1950s by a talented Navajo silversmith. The pendant features a lovely turquoise stone with an aqua-blue hue and deep brown matrix. Above the turquoise is a red coral stone, its pink-red hue contrasting beautifully with the turquoise.

Both stones rest securely in scalloped bezel settings, and a leaf motif accents the stones. The pendant dangles from a foxtail chain on which many hand-made bench beads were also strung. Composed entirely by hand and formed from two halves, the beads contain hand-hammered scalloped melon and round bead designs.

When worn, the pendant rests against the bustline on most people. There is tarnish on the sterling silver in some areas, giving the piece a lovely antique quality. There are also some scratches on the back of the pendant, which is not noticeable when worn. The price has been reduced to reflect this. This listing is for the item only. This beautiful piece was made by a very talented Native American silversmith. It features handcrafted silversmith work throughout. Antique Native American jewelry is very rare to find. This is due to these pieces being made for reservation and personal use before the tourist trade became popular. Very few pieces were made and even less survived to today.

The Navajo Nation sits on 27,000 square miles within the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The Navajo have a rich history and culture and have become known for creating some of the finest sterling silver and turquoise jewelry, incorporating their own traditional motifs with silversmithing.

The squash blossom necklace is perhaps one the most famous Navajo styles produced, along with turquoise inlay rings. Turquoise is an important stone in Navajo culture; symbolizing happiness, good fortune, and good health. The first Navajo silversmith, Atsidi Sani, was taught around 1865 by a Mexican silversmith.

Atsidi Sani, in turn, taught his four sons, who then started teaching other Navajo artisans. In the beginning, Navajo artisans created sterling silver jewelry for themselves and others in the Navajo Nation. The concept of Pawn, Old Pawn, and Dead Pawn Native American Jewelry came to be in the 1800s. When a loan wasnt repaid, the item became known as either Old Pawn or Dead Pawn.

Turquoise is found all over the world and has been a popular semi-precious stone used in jewelry and art for thousands of years by many different cultures; from prehistoric times to the present. Turquoise comes in many beautiful color variations; from the popular bright solid sky-blue hues to dark blue hues with dark spiderwebbing throughout, as well as aqua, teal, and many green varieties, and even some rare white with dark spiderwebbing. Red Coral is a highly prized stone by Native American cultures and has long been used by artisans in the Southwest. Spanish traders introduced coral to the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and other tribes, and it quickly became a sign and symbol of wealth and status in many different Native American cultures. It varies in color from deep red to orange, with red being the preferred choice of Native American jewelry makers.

The item "Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Navajo Turquoise Coral Bead Necklace 20g" is in sale since Sunday, September 27, 2020. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Necklaces & Pendants". The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Country of Origin: United States, Navajo Nation
• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Material: String
• Ethnic Origin: Navajo
• Stone #2: Red coral
• Metal Purity: .925
• Main Stone: Turquoise
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• Jewelry Type: Necklaces
• Tribal Affiliation: Navajo