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Larry Moses Begay, Navajo - Sterling Silver
Turquoise Petit Point
Squash Blossom Necklace
HK Item #N559

Jewelry  <  Vintage Jewelry  <  Squash Blossom Necklaces

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

size
29" end to end;
3 1/2" x 3" naja;
10 blossoms 2 1/8" x 1 3/8";
8.5 mm bench beads strung on cable
weight
206 grams
materials
sterling silver, Read about silver
turquoise, Read about stones
condition
pre-owned, excellent; dark patina; no misshapen blossoms; stones firmly set with no cracks, chips or missing pieces
hallmarks
stamped: LMB STERLING
artist
Larry Moses Begay, Navajo

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

10 blossoms 2 1/8" x 1 3/8".

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

Lacy silverwork around all the pieces.

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

 

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Larry Moses Begay, Navajo
Sterling Silver
Turquoise Petit Point
Squash Blossom Necklace

N559 - $2,450 plus s/h
(ONLY ONE AVAILABLE)

Paula says - "This grand scale petit point necklace is made with that happy color of turquoise commonly associated with the Sleeping Beauty mine. You can't look at this necklace and not feel great!

"Note the unique lacy silverwork design around all the pieces - very pretty addition."

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

3 1/2" x 3" naja.

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

Sterling silver hook and eye closure.

See Necklace Extenders

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

29 inches end to end.   8.5 mm bench beads strung on cable.

Vintage Navajo sterling silver turquoise petit point squash blossom necklace by Larry Moses Begay

Squash Blossom Symbolism

Corn, squash and beans are the traditional mainstays of the southwestern diet, culture and symbolism and are used in many ways in art and ceremony. The squash blossom represents abundant life.

What is a squash blossom necklace?

"Some say the Navajo squash blossom necklace has a connection to southwestern agriculture, other say the the spread petal design is just that, a design, and that is was only after white man asked, “what is this, what does it mean” did the name squash blossom come to be. Yet others say the Navajo copied a similar Spanish design of the pomegranate – look at the end of a pomegranate sometime and compare it to the “squash blossom” bead.

"The Navajo word for the “squash blossom” bead means “bead that spreads out” so it would seem to me that the original intent was design, not squash. But what do I know, I wasn’t around in 1880 when spread beads first appeared.

"Whichever is the true account, it seems that originally Navajo silversmiths used simple silver bead necklaces to suspend their naja pendants. In about 1880, the tri-petal form that we know as a squash blossom bead appeared.

"At first, tri-petal silver beads were simply interspersed with plain beads in a naja necklace. Then stones began to be added to the blossom beads partly to please the maker but mostly to satisfy customer demand.

"While usually associated with Navajo silversmiths, squash blossom necklaces are also made and worn by Pueblo and Zuni people. Zuni necklaces usually feature needlepoint designs. Although there can be any number of squash blossoms on each side of a necklace, there are often six on each side, making twelve squash blossoms and one central naja.

"Full size squash blossom necklaces are often quite large and heavy and most suitable for occasional ceremonial wear. Smaller, lighter versions are made to be worn as everyday jewelry." - Paula

What is a Naja?

The horseshoe shaped naja originated with the Moors in Spain. It is a good luck charm to ward off the evil eye. It was often used on the browband of Moorish Horses. It is thought that it came to Mexico via the Spanish Moors and from there was adopted by the Navajo Indians. The naja is the base pendant of many ornate squash blossom necklaces: read more . . .

What are Bench Beads?

Bench beads are partially manufactured and partially hand made. Usually the halves are machine cut and the silversmith solders the two halves together. Sometimes bench beads are left with a protruding seam but in other cases the seam is sanded down and polished smooth. Then the beads are strung by hand.

ABOUT TURQUOISE

Turquoise is associated with the sky, and bringing sky energy to earth. It is known as a master healer stone as it is believed to help speed the healing process. It is also thought that turquoise can help promote honest and clear communication from the heart.
Turquoise comes in all shades of blue, to blue-green and it is the natural variations in turquoise that make it appealing. The color of turquoise in American Indian jewelry ranges from brownish green to bright blue. Found in veins sandwiched in between layers of mother rock, turquoise can show some of the influence of the mother rock in its matrix or veining. The matrix colors range from blue to golden brown to black and sometimes with golden flecks. Many people prefer turquoise with matrix over clear stones. Read more about stones.

NOTE: Items in our Vintage Shop are either USED or NEW. They might come from inheritances, estate sales, private collections, and store liquidations. Many items are brand new (NOS, New Old Stock) and in perfect condition while others may show tarnish, scratches and other signs of use. Major issues will be described in detail and shown in photos. Vintage Shop items are sold as described and are not returnable.
Horsekeeping LLC - Definitions of Jewelry Age and Condition
©  2015 Horsekeeping LLC    © Copyright Information
Patina
A dark or colored film of oxidation that forms naturally on metal exposure to air and other elements. It is often valued for its aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Vintage
30 years or older.
NOS
New Old Stock. Retail store inventory from at least 10 years ago.
Pre-owned
An item that has been used.

Our Rescue Mission
of
Native American Indian Jewelry and Artifacts

Native American Jewelry blog tips and informationWe are in the vintage Native American jewelry rescue business and are passionate about finding new homes for used and vintage jewelry and artifacts. That's why we purchase Native American pieces from estates, inheritances, collection downsizing and New Old Stock (NOS) inventory from closed stores.

Often people contact us after taking a box of Native American jewelry to their local pawn shop and find that a pawn shop is mainly interested in melt value of the metals and not in preserving the beautiful historic pieces. To hear that people have considered selling these treasures for melt value makes us truly sad.

Melt value is usually far below what we would offer for the jewelry. Yet we can't pay retail price for items because of the time and cost involved in finding new homes for them. We have to research, often repair and restore the jewelry, photograph and list each item on our website, and sometimes hold pieces in inventory for years until the right buyer comes along.

We hope you'll find something special in our vintage shop that will complete yet another circle of our jewelry re-homing mission.

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