Native American Navajo Made Navajo Pearls Necklace with Naja--Vintage

Description

Early 1900s Native American Navajo Made Navajo Pearls Necklace with Naja

This substantial necklace with Naja and squash blossom flowers was created using classic Sterling silver benchmark beads. The Sterling silver beads are called Navajo Pearls as they are quite valuable to the men and women who wear them. The more pearls, the higher the status of the individual. This is a classic and unusal piece. It hangs on the original chain which has stretched over the years due to the weight of the beads. The hook and eye is handcrafted, which dates the piece before the mid-1970s. The Naja style dates back further (maybe 1930s) with the blossom ends and the shepherd's hook on the back. A single piece of beautiful natural turquoise highlights this necklace. I have seen very few of these that have such large bench beads and blossoms. A wonderful piece of Native American history and culture that you can wear.