Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Navajo Carved Turquoise Eagle Necklace
We have similar Native and Navajo items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Item Description by: Cait P.
Age Circa: Antique Native Navajo C. Markings: "Sterling" on the back of the pendant, tested, and guaranteed.
Country of Origin: United States - Navajo Nation. Gram Weight: 11.9 grams. Main Stone: Stormy Mountain turquoise.
Color: opaque blue hue with dark blue spider-webbing. Stone Treatment: The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists.
Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester. Stone Cuts: Carved and polished cabochon. Chain width: 1.8 mm. Pendant measurements: 1.6" long, 1.45" wide. Closure/Clasp Type: Spring ring clasp. Link Type: Prince of Wales chain. Handmade in the 1960s by a talented Navajo silversmith. The pendant features a stormy mountain turquoise stone which was carved into the likeness of an eagle in flight.The pendant is strung on a Prince of Wales chain completed with a spring ring clasp. When worn, the necklace sits below the collarbone with the pendant resting against the decolletage on most people.
Tarnish on the sterling silver gives this piece an antique quality which we believe is quite lovely. The Prince of Wales chain is not original to the pendant and was added by a previous owner; however, this does not affect wear or the overall appearance. This listing is for the item only. This beautiful piece was made by a very talented Native American silversmith. It features handcrafted silversmith work throughout. Antique Native American jewelry is very rare to find. This is due to these pieces being made for reservation and personal use before the tourist trade became popular. Very few pieces were made and even less survived to today.The Navajo Nation sits on 27,000 square miles within the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The Navajo have a rich history and culture and have become known for creating some of the finest sterling silver and turquoise jewelry, incorporating their own traditional motifs with silversmithing. The squash blossom necklace is perhaps one the most famous Navajo styles produced, along with turquoise inlay rings. Turquoise is an important stone in Navajo culture; symbolizing happiness, good fortune, and good health.
The first Navajo silversmith, Atsidi Sani, was taught around 1865 by a Mexican silversmith. Atsidi Sani, in turn, taught his four sons, who then started teaching other Navajo artisans. In the beginning, Navajo artisans created sterling silver jewelry for themselves and others in the Navajo Nation. The concept of Pawn, Old Pawn, and Dead Pawn Native American Jewelry came to be in the 1800s.When a loan wasnt repaid, the item became known as either Old Pawn or Dead Pawn. Stormy Mountain Turquoise is a beautiful Nevada turquoise that produces dark blue hues mixed with a brown or black chert-like matrix that gives the appearance of storm clouds. The highest grade from this mine has a medium to dark blue and aqua blue with a spiderweb matrix that ranges from a brownish-orange to a deep rich mahogany brown.
It is one of the most prized types of turquoise by collectors due to its rarity and beauty. The item "Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Navajo Carved Turquoise Eagle Necklace" is in sale since Sunday, June 7, 2020.
This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Necklaces & Pendants". The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado.
This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Ethnic Origin: Navajo
- Country of Origin: United States - Navajo Nation
- Modified Item: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Featured Refinements: Vintage Turquoise Necklace
- Metal Purity: . 925
- Main Stone: Turquoise
- Metal: Sterling Silver
- Jewelry Type: Necklaces
- Tribal Affiliation: Navajo