Navajo
American Southwest
1960
Sterling silver and natural turquoise
Length 24 in / 61 cm
Naja 2 3/4 in / 7 cm
Provenance: Private collection, Taos, New Mexico
This Navajo necklace is built with shadow box settings, in which each turquoise cabochon sits recessed inside a deep round silver frame that casts a shadow around the stone. A double strand of silver beads carries the row of shadow box blossoms, each with silver drops between them, down to a matching shadow box naja at the center front. The recessed settings give the piece a darker, more sculptural surface than a standard raised bezel.
The shadow box technique developed in mid twentieth century Navajo silverwork, using an oxidized recessed ground to set off each stone. The naja descends from Moorish metalwork and entered Navajo silver as both ornament and protective motif, here carried out in the same shadow box construction as the blossoms. At 24 inches the necklace is a wearable length, with the turquoise reading as a row of deep set stones against darkened silver.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Navajo
American Southwest
1960
Sterling silver and natural turquoise
Length 24 in / 61 cm
Naja 2 3/4 in / 7 cm
Provenance: Private collection, Taos, New Mexico
This Navajo necklace is built with shadow box settings, in which each turquoise cabochon sits recessed inside a deep round silver frame that casts a shadow around the stone. A double strand of silver beads carries the row of shadow box blossoms, each with silver drops between them, down to a matching shadow box naja at the center front. The recessed settings give the piece a darker, more sculptural surface than a standard raised bezel.
The shadow box technique developed in mid twentieth century Navajo silverwork, using an oxidized recessed ground to set off each stone. The naja descends from Moorish metalwork and entered Navajo silver as both ornament and protective motif, here carried out in the same shadow box construction as the blossoms. At 24 inches the necklace is a wearable length, with the turquoise reading as a row of deep set stones against darkened silver.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
