Native American Vintage 60's Genuine OLD Kingman Turquoise Sterling Silver Squash Blossom Necklace.

This vintage Navajo Necklace should be in a museum. It was made the right way! Pretty sure it's late 60's or early 70's. Very impressive piece. It was made with natural Old Kingman Turquoise that features rich sky blues and an amazing golden pyrite matrix. I'm holding it in my hand and I can't believe how well each stone matches. And the matrix is played up by the patina on the Sterling Silver. This old pawn squash blossom was hand made the old traditional way by a Navajo artisan in the Heart of the Indian Nation. Each bench bead was made by hand from Sterling Silver. This stunning Squash Blossom is 24" long and has a 4-1/2" by 4" naja. As a general rule, we leave all vintage and antique jewelry in their current condition. Each piece develops its own character over time adding to the uniqueness and value of the item.

The necklace referred to today as the Squash Blossom necklace probably didn't originate much before 1880. This is taken from the fact that Washington Mathews did not mention this type of jewelry in his "Navajo Silversmiths" Second Annual Report, 1880-81. Arthur Woodard, in 1938, pointed out that the Navajo and Zuni beads were originally Spanish-Mexican trouser and jacket ornaments which were fashioned to resemble the pomegranate.

The pomegranate was a common Spanish decorator motif, often seen carved or painted on missions in Mexico and often a clothing decoration. If one examined an early Navajo "squash blossom" bead, a striking similarity would be seen to exist between the Mexican ornament and the pomegranate Still, in spite of the similarities, there is quite a bit of doubt that the Navajo attempted to depict this blossom in his bead. The Navajo word for the "squash blossom" bead is "yo ne maze disya gi" which means simply "bead that spreads out." Nothing in the word denoted squash or pomegranate blossom. Perhaps the word was coined by a white man who, asking a Navajo what the bead represented, (the white man is obsessed with what something means, he is rarely satisfied that something is simply attractive) was told that it looked like a squash blossom (the Navajo understands the white man's obsession and often attempts to satisfy it as painlessly as possible.) It is doubtful that the Navajo intended that the bead represent the squash blossom.

Because the Indian ceremonials largely dealt with the agricultural cycle, and the first jewelry was worn during these occasions, coupled with the fact that the beads along with the chain looked like pomegranates or squash blossoms, all have tended to portray the necklace in a crop-fertility ceremonial light.

We understand the true value and nature of hand crafted Indian art. And, we recognize it's important to know that the artist is truly a member of a Native American tribe. So, to ensure you that this is the real deal, a Certificate of Authenticity has been included with this item.

CERTIFIED AUTHENTIC