Navajo
American Southwest
1950
Sterling silver and natural turquoise
Length 24 in / 61 cm
Naja 2 1/4 in / 5.7 cm
142.6 grams
Provenance: Private collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico
This Navajo necklace is strung as a double strand of round silver beads, with silver squash blossom drops spaced along both rows. A broad plain crescent naja hangs at the center front, set with a single small turquoise at each of its tips. The turquoise is limited to those two stones, leaving the beads, blossoms, and body of the naja in plain silver.
The naja descends from Moorish metalwork and entered Navajo silver as both ornament and protective motif, here kept broad and unadorned apart from the stone tipped ends. The squash blossom bead traces to Spanish pomegranate ornament, taken into Southwestern silver in the nineteenth century. At 24 inches and just over 142 grams, the double strand gives the necklace fullness across the chest while staying a wearable length.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Navajo
American Southwest
1950
Sterling silver and natural turquoise
Length 24 in / 61 cm
Naja 2 1/4 in / 5.7 cm
142.6 grams
Provenance: Private collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico
This Navajo necklace is strung as a double strand of round silver beads, with silver squash blossom drops spaced along both rows. A broad plain crescent naja hangs at the center front, set with a single small turquoise at each of its tips. The turquoise is limited to those two stones, leaving the beads, blossoms, and body of the naja in plain silver.
The naja descends from Moorish metalwork and entered Navajo silver as both ornament and protective motif, here kept broad and unadorned apart from the stone tipped ends. The squash blossom bead traces to Spanish pomegranate ornament, taken into Southwestern silver in the nineteenth century. At 24 inches and just over 142 grams, the double strand gives the necklace fullness across the chest while staying a wearable length.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
