Vintage Sterling Silver Squash Blossom Tufa Cast Necklace Naja Old Pawn Navajo 22" Length 58 grams Old Pawn

Vintage, very old pawn, Navajo sterling silver squash blossom necklace. In excellent vintage condition, lovely untouched patina.

Dimensions of Naja:
Width 1.75"
Height 2"
Length 22"
Weight 58grams
Full length with Naja drop equivalent to 25.5""

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An original squash blossom necklace is formed with silver and turquoise and entails round silver beads intermingled with beads that appear like they are blooming, all which lead down to a horse-shoe like pendant at the bottom called the Naja.

The Navajo tribe was the first to adopt this design after encounters with the Spanish Mexicans that arrived at their land. The name ‘squash blossom’ originated by the signature beads found in the necklace, that spread out like a blossoming flower.

The Naja symbol was created as a talisman for protection, to ward off evil spirits. The Naja shape has also been known as an illustration of the womb, and when a squash blossom necklace has one turquoise piece suspended from the Naja, it is interpreted to be a representation of a child in the womb.

Born in 1972 in Crown Point, New Mexico, Chris became fascinated with silversmithing while watching his uncle, Raymond King. At age eighteen, Chris began his own career as a silversmith, teaching himself the tools and techniques he observed his uncle use to craft his own award winning jewelry. A master of so many silver working and design styles now, Chris considers the more basic, traditional Navajo method of stamp work to be his favorite and finest skill. The stamped silver pieces he produces are crisp, refined and expressive. It is with these traditional designs and techniques that Chris feels most connected to his tribe cultural history - the “old ways”.