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Strung on cable, ends finished with sterling cones, and hook and eye. |
19 White Bears Necklace - N746
$160 plus s/h | ||||||||||
Paula says - "In my opinion, this bear necklace shows design characteristics and workmanship of being Native American made. But because there is no hallmark that we can attribute to a specific artist we can't legally sell it as Native American made - read more."
Pen shell heishi.
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Native American Bear SymbolismBear is considered the most powerful of all of the animals and is one of the most popular subjects of Native American carvers. Bear is a spiritual guide and represents strength and self-knowledge. Bear has supernatural powers and great healing powers. Bear is a symbol deliberate action, introspection, soul and insight for the past and the future. The Bear is the guardian of the West an is one of the animals of the Six Directions. Bears are the main figure in the Mountain Way, an important Navajo ceremony. Bear claws are a traditional adornment to pendants and bracelets. |
What is Pen Shell?Pen shell, also called sea wing and fan mussel, shares characteristics with oysters, scallops, and mussels. Having the general shape of a mussel with two thin-walled, fan-shaped shells, the pen shell is typically long and tapered, somewhat triangular, like a flag or pennant from which it get its name. Pen shells can grow to more that twelve inches in length. The shells are various shades of black and reddish brown with colorful iridescent lining. Pen shells are common in shallow waters near seagrass beds and are usually found buried in the sand with only the upper portion of the shell exposed. Pen shell heishi is commonly used by Native American artists either by itself or as spacers with other materials such as turquoise, coral and spiny oyster. |
About Silver100% solid silver won't tarnish but it is too soft to use for making jewelry - it could easily be scratched, dented and bent. Sterling silver has a small amount of one or more other metals usually copper, added to the silver. To be called sterling silver, the alloy must contain at least 92.5% pure silver. Sterling silver alloy is harder than pure silver but the added metals also can cause discoloration or tarnish. |
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. |
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