Pre-50's Navajo Style Old Pawn Genuine Turquoise Sterling Silver Cross Pendant 0105-242672-PN
Pre-50's Navajo Style Old Pawn Genuine Turquoise Sterling Silver Cross Pendant.
This Turquoise Cross is a gorgeous work of art. It's full of natural character with hand-cut stones of genuine Turquoise that appears to be from the Sleeping Beauty mine. The Turquoise stones have been set in the brilliance of hand crafted Sterling Silver constructed with traditional techniques. Each bezel is created from scratch and made to fit each uniquely shaped Turquoise nugget. Turquoise stones may vary slightly, you'll receive one from the group pictured below. This Turquoise pendant is about 2-1/2" by 1-1/2". Stamped Sterling and signed by the artist.
This item is pre-50's Navajo-style Old Pawn jewelry made out of heavy gauge Sterling Silver and genuine American Turquoise, such as Kingman, Battle Mountain, Hachita, Sleeping Beauty, or Mojave. This Turquoise is from Richard's collection and has been out of the mine for thirty years, which makes it difficult to 100% accurately identify. This jewelry appears a hundred years old and was created based on early twentieth century pieces displayed in old magazines such as Arizona Highways.
Throughout the Indian lands the trading posts serve as pawn shops, with the trader usually involved in a pragmatic form of banking - part of the process known as pawning. Most reservation Indians convert their cash into silver and Turquoise jewelry and woven articles made from their Native wool. When in need of money or commodities their assets are used as securities for loans. At times the trading post vault is the safest place in which to keep valuables. In this case the Native American pawns the items for a minimum loan and is happy to pay the interest rate in return for the security of his goods. If the articles are not redeemed after the contractual length of time, they become "dead pawn" otherwise known as an "old pawn" and may be sold by the trader. |