HOT ! Native American Silver Bead Necklace with Pendant

A sterling silver bead necklace. This is a fine and quite early example of a Native American, hand-made bead necklace with a fine hanging turquoise set pendant. These types of necklaces have been a popular adornment for members of various Native American\'s for hundreds of years. This example is no different. It features a long pinched oval bead, flanked by two round ball squashed bead. All of these beads run a fine sterling silver chain. This is much more resilient than cord or more modern stringing techniques. 

The pendant is quite a statement piece. It is formed in a pear shape like design with a large oval turquoise beautifully pale blue stone set into it. Running along one edge is a featherlike detail. An element very popular in Native vulture along so many aspects of their art and clothing. Both the cabochon stone and the mount it is set on are surrounded by a hand braided sterling rope design soldered onto the pendant. Although quite large, measuring two inches north to south, it is hollow in the center, so is not overly heavy to wear, and uncomfortable.

Each Native American tribe has its own distinctive jewelry-making style, a testament to the rich cultural diversity of the region. While artists from tribes like the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and Santo Domingo have at times ventured beyond their traditional aesthetics, their respective jewelry-making techniques remain the hallmarks of their enduring artistic legacies.

The Zuni are renowned for their mastery of mosaic, channel inlay, cluster, needlepoint, and petit point designs, showcasing a dazzling array of stones and shells. The Navajo, on the other hand, are famed for their iconic Squash Blossom Necklaces, featuring large turquoise, coral, and other stones framed by intricate scrolls, beads, and leaf patterns in sterling silver. As the largest producers of Native American jewelry, the Navajo have elevated this art form to new heights.

In contrast, the Hopi silversmiths favor the overlay technique, rarely incorporating stones, and instead relying on the interplay of oxidized backgrounds and polished silver designs to create their distinctive pieces. The Santo Domingo, with their centuries-old bead-making traditions, incorporate seashells, turquoise, jet, and coral into their captivating jewelry, with each painstakingly hand-crafted Heishi bead testament to their unwavering dedication.

Underpinning the diverse jewelry traditions of these tribes is the use of sterling silver, a malleable alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, which allows for the intricate craftsmanship that has come to define Native American jewelry.

From the northern reaches of Arizona and New Mexico to the pueblos of New Mexico, the American Southwest is the vibrant canvas upon which these tribes have honed their artistic mastery, passing down their skills and cultural legacies from one generation to the next. Whether in formal schools or within the cherished confines of family workshops, the enduring spirit of Native American jewelry-making continues to captivate and inspire.

The necklace measures twenty four inches in length. It features a traditional hook and eye clasp. The condition is excellent overall and has a great patina to the silver, which should be left as found.

Made in America, circa 1960\'s.