Navajo
American Southwest
1950s
Sterling silver and natural turquoise
Length 24 in / 61 cm
Naja 1 7/8 x 2 in / 4.8 x 5.1 cm
163.09 grams
Provenance: Private collection, Albuquerque, New Mexico
This Navajo necklace carries a strand of fluted silver beads that graduate toward the front, with plain silver squash blossom drops along the lower half. A twisted wire crescent naja hangs at the center front, set with a single oval natural turquoise and a smaller stone at each tip of the crescent. Turquoise is limited to the naja, leaving the beads and blossoms in plain sterling.
The naja descends from Moorish metalwork and entered Navajo silver as both ornament and protective motif, its crescent here outlined in twisted wire for added texture. The squash blossom bead traces to Spanish pomegranate ornament, taken into Southwestern silver in the nineteenth century. At 24 inches and just over 163 grams, the necklace has the weight and scale of a piece made to be worn for ceremony and display.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Navajo
American Southwest
1950s
Sterling silver and natural turquoise
Length 24 in / 61 cm
Naja 1 7/8 x 2 in / 4.8 x 5.1 cm
163.09 grams
Provenance: Private collection, Albuquerque, New Mexico
This Navajo necklace carries a strand of fluted silver beads that graduate toward the front, with plain silver squash blossom drops along the lower half. A twisted wire crescent naja hangs at the center front, set with a single oval natural turquoise and a smaller stone at each tip of the crescent. Turquoise is limited to the naja, leaving the beads and blossoms in plain sterling.
The naja descends from Moorish metalwork and entered Navajo silver as both ornament and protective motif, its crescent here outlined in twisted wire for added texture. The squash blossom bead traces to Spanish pomegranate ornament, taken into Southwestern silver in the nineteenth century. At 24 inches and just over 163 grams, the necklace has the weight and scale of a piece made to be worn for ceremony and display.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
