Benson Ration, Navajo - Sterling Silver
Orange Spiny Oyster Set
Necklace, Earrings
HK Item #S479

All Jewelry < Vintage Shop < Vintage Sets

Condition	pre-owned, excellent, bright patina; shells firmly set in smooth bezels with no cracks or chips
Necklace	adjustable 14" to 20" center kachina is 3 1/2" x 1 1/2"; side kachinas are 2 1/2" long
Earrings	1 1/2" tall
Weight	101 grams for set
Materials	sterling silver, Read about silver orange spiny oyster, Read about stones and shells
Hallmarks	stamped: BR Sterling a hoof print
Artist	Benson Ration, Navajo

Shells firmly set in smooth bezels.

Post earrings 1 1/2" tall"

Benson Ration, Navajo
Orange Spiny Oyster Set
Necklace, Earrings

S479 - $995 plus s/h
(ONLY ONE SET AVAILABLE)

Paula says - "This unique necklace by Navajo artist Benson Ration is comprised of interchangeable components connected by shepherd's hooks so you can wear any of the kachinas as a separate pendant."

Authentic Native American Sterling Silver Orange Spiny Oyster necklace and earrings set by Navajo Silversmith Benson Ration

Center kachina is 3 1/2" x 1 1/2".

Side kachinas are 2 1/2" long.

Necklace is comprised of interchangeable components connected by shepherd's hooks so you can wear any of the kachinas as a separate pendant.

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What is a Kachina?

A kachina is one of many supernatural beings who play a role in the religious beliefs and rituals of Pueblo Indian peoples. A kachina is also a masked dancer believed to embody a particular spirit during a religious ceremony. Also, a kachina is a carved doll in the costume of a particular spirit.

What is Spiny Oyster?

Spiny oyster, not surprisingly, is an oyster that is covered with spines. Like coral or mother-of-pearl, the shell of spiny oyster is considered an organic gemstone. The portion of the shell used to make jewelry is aragonite, which consists of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Aragonite has the same chemical formula as calcite. Spiny oysters are found along the Atlantic coast of Baja California and Baja Mexico. Common colors vary from orange, found in shallow waters, to red and purple from deeper waters. The shell is also found in white, yellow, pink and brown. Polished shell has definite striations and color variation. Red spiny oyster has been used as a subsititute for coral.

Our Rescue Mission
of Native American Indian Jewerly and Artifacts

We 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 () 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.

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.

Benson Ration, Navajo - Sterling Silver Orange Spiny Oyster Set Necklace, EarringsHK Item #S479

What is a Kachina?

What is Spiny Oyster?

Our Rescue Missionof Native American Indian Jewerly and Artifacts

Horsekeeping LLC - Definitions of Jewelry Age and Condition© 2015 Horsekeeping LLC © Copyright Information

Benson Ration, Navajo - Sterling Silver
Orange Spiny Oyster Set
Necklace, Earrings
HK Item #S479

Our Rescue Mission
of Native American Indian Jewerly and Artifacts

Horsekeeping LLC - Definitions of Jewelry Age and Condition
© 2015 Horsekeeping LLC © Copyright Information