Santa Domingo Turquoise Silver Necklace 1045-BNK
Santa Domingo Turquoise Silver Necklace
Surf and turf, this necklace is a true gift from both the land and sea. This gorgeous Santa Domingo necklace features large flat nuggets of genuine Spiny Oyster shell just full of natural colors, markings, and textures. The Spiny Oyster shell nuggets have been artfully hand strung in graduated sizes with genuine Turquoise nuggets to provide a contrast. Hand stamped Sterling Silver bench beads adorn both ends. It is 26" long. This one comes from the old Apache Turquoise & Case Co. trading post. They used to be one of our main suppliers running out of Phoenix, Arizona, and after a few decades the owner decided to retire from the business. Richard was lucky and fast enough to buy up his old stock leaving us with a giant treasure of high quality items.
Turquoise is a valuable mineral and is possibly the most valuable, non-transparent mineral in the jewelry trade. It has been mined for eons since at least 6000 BC. by early Egyptians. Its history also includes beautiful ornamental creations by Native Americans and Persians. Its popularity is still quite strong today. Although crystals of any size are rare, some small crystals have been found in Virginia and elsewhere. Most specimens are cryptocrystalline, meaning that the crystals could only be seen by a microscope. The finest turquoise comes from Iran but is challenged by some southwestern United States specimens. The name comes from a French word which means stone of Turkey, from where Persian material passed on its way to Europe.
There are many legends about Turquoise; The Pima consider it to bring good fortune and strength and that it helped overcome illness. The Zuni believe that blue turquoise was male and of the sky and green turquoise was female and of the earth. Pueblo Indians thought that its color was stolen from the sky. In Hopi legend the lizard who travels between the above and the below, excretes turquoise and that the stone can hold back floods. The Apache felt that turquoise on a gun or bow made it shoot straight. The Navajo consider it as good fortune to wear and believe it could appease the Wind Spirit.
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 |