Navajo, Southwest
1960
Sterling silver, natural turquoise
Length 27" (68.6 cm)
Marked "S.F. Navajo"
Provenance: Albuquerque, New Mexico trade
Petit point is a silversmithing technique developed within the Southwestern Native American jewelry tradition in which small, individually cut and set stones are arranged in close formation to create dense, patterned compositions. The technique requires precise stone cutting and setting, with each turquoise cabochon shaped to a uniform small oval or teardrop form before being bezeled into the silver framework. Navajo petit point work of the mid-20th century represents a mature phase of the tradition, when skilled smiths had fully developed the technique introduced in the earlier decades of the century.
This necklace is worked in sterling silver with natural turquoise stones set in the petit point manner, the maker's mark "S.F. Navajo" identifying the piece as the work of a named Navajo silversmith. Natural turquoise, distinguished from stabilized or treated stone by its unaltered surface and color variation, was the standard material for Navajo jewelry production of this period before the widespread introduction of treated stones in later decades. The 27-inch length is consistent with the standard wearing length for necklaces of this type, designed to fall at the chest when worn.
Mid-20th century Navajo petit point jewelry represents a category increasingly valued by collectors of Southwestern silver, as examples from this period with maker's marks and documented natural turquoise are distinguished from later production using treated or synthetic stones. The "S.F. Navajo" mark provides a specific attribution that narrows the piece to an individual maker within the Navajo silversmithing tradition. The Albuquerque trade provenance places this necklace within the regional market through which much mid-century Southwestern jewelry entered private collections.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
INQUIRE HERE
Navajo, Southwest
1960
Sterling silver, natural turquoise
Length 27" (68.6 cm)
Marked "S.F. Navajo"
Provenance: Albuquerque, New Mexico trade
Petit point is a silversmithing technique developed within the Southwestern Native American jewelry tradition in which small, individually cut and set stones are arranged in close formation to create dense, patterned compositions. The technique requires precise stone cutting and setting, with each turquoise cabochon shaped to a uniform small oval or teardrop form before being bezeled into the silver framework. Navajo petit point work of the mid-20th century represents a mature phase of the tradition, when skilled smiths had fully developed the technique introduced in the earlier decades of the century.
This necklace is worked in sterling silver with natural turquoise stones set in the petit point manner, the maker's mark "S.F. Navajo" identifying the piece as the work of a named Navajo silversmith. Natural turquoise, distinguished from stabilized or treated stone by its unaltered surface and color variation, was the standard material for Navajo jewelry production of this period before the widespread introduction of treated stones in later decades. The 27-inch length is consistent with the standard wearing length for necklaces of this type, designed to fall at the chest when worn.
Mid-20th century Navajo petit point jewelry represents a category increasingly valued by collectors of Southwestern silver, as examples from this period with maker's marks and documented natural turquoise are distinguished from later production using treated or synthetic stones. The "S.F. Navajo" mark provides a specific attribution that narrows the piece to an individual maker within the Navajo silversmithing tradition. The Albuquerque trade provenance places this necklace within the regional market through which much mid-century Southwestern jewelry entered private collections.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
INQUIRE HERE
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