Description:

Native American, Southwestern United States, Dine (Navajo), ca. mid to late 20th century CE. A stunning sterling silver squash blossom necklace featuring a naja pendant and turquoise stones, designed to be wearable with a secure hook-and-eyelet clasp. The spherical silver beads are strung on a slender wire that splits into a double strand, each adorned with 10 ovoid bezel-set turquoise cabochons framed by twisted wirework and accented with trumpet-shaped squash blossoms along the edge. The crescent-shaped naja pendant serves as the centerpiece, embellished with 7 additional turquoise cabochons set into the horseshoe-shaped design. Size of strand: 24.5" L (62.2 cm); naja pendant: 4" L x 3.75" W (10.2 cm x 9.5 cm); silver quality: 93% to 94%; weight: 221.3 grams.

The Navajo word for the squash blossom bead translates to "bead that spreads out," referring to its distinctive tri-petal shape. Early naja necklaces, which first appeared around 1880, were simple, featuring tri-petal silver beads interspersed with plain beads, but over time, turquoise and other stones were incorporated into the design. The naja crescent, often regarded as decorative by the Navajo, holds cultural significance and is highly esteemed by the Navajo and other Indigenous peoples. Scholars have noted a squash blossom petroglyph at Saguaro National Monument in Arizona, and it is believed that the flower motif was introduced by the Spanish as a variation of the pomegranate flower. The naja crescent itself may have entered the Southwest via Spanish influence, potentially derived from Muslim or Near Eastern traditions.

Provenance: private Carpinteria, California, USA collection, acquired before 1990

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#191037

    Condition:
  • Dark patina and toning. Old inventory numbers written on the surface in ink. Good condition and wearable.

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Shipping

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January 17, 2025 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
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$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
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$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000