Late 20th Century Native American Turquoise Sterling Silver Squash Blossom Necklace

Details

Description

Vintage 1970s Navajo squash blossom necklace featuring blue-green turquoise stones combine with intricate sterling silver work. The naja of the … Read more Vintage 1970s Navajo squash blossom necklace featuring blue-green turquoise stones combine with intricate sterling silver work. The naja of the piece features eight turquoise stones in a teardrop frames, A single teardrop piece hangs from the bottom of the top stone. Five squash blossoms are set on either side of the necklace’s double stranded beads, the turquoise stones at the center set of a sterling silver teardrop with the bezel that holds the cabochon turquoise piece and surrounded at the base by sterling rope patterns. The necklace’s double beaded pearls merge into a single strand just after the last blossom on each side, and the necklace is finished with a hook and eye closure. The length is 22″ from end to end.. Naja measures 4″ wide x 3.89" wide.

Squash Blossom information provided by Palms Trading Company

"Navajo squash blossom necklaces are one of the most recognizable types of Native American jewelry. Squash blossom necklaces were especially popular during the bohemian fashion craze of the 1970s, but are best known today for their Native American origins. The squash blossom necklace serves as a reminder of the close interaction between the Pueblo and Navajo Native Americans beginning in the 1800s. The necklace itself is Navajo, eventually adopted by the Zuni Pueblo, however, the Zuni were the first to incorporate turquoise into their creations, which became a method adopted by the Navajo.

What is a Squash Blossom Necklace?
A squash blossom necklace is made primarily from silver and turquoise (or other semi-precious stones) and may feature silver beads surrounding beads that look like they are blooming, hence the term “blossom.” It is said that these blossoms are fashioned after the pomegranate flower, seen on Spanish conquistadors. The horseshoe-shaped Naja is the focal point of any squash blossom necklace, typically strung at the bottom. Squash blossom necklaces predate English contact with Native Americans in the southwestern United States but are thought to be influenced by the Spanish. Squash blossom necklaces date as far back as the 1870s, and have remained fairly consistently popular throughout history.
What is the Naja?

The Naja is the horseshoe or crescent moon shaped pendant at the bottom of a squash blossom necklace. The Naja is thought to provide protection, and when there is a turquoise bead suspended in the middle of it, it is meant to symbolize a baby in the womb. Additionally, the Naja is thought to ward off evil spirits. Over time, and with each generation, the naja became more and more symbolic with various ceremonials. As most ceremonials were related to the agricultural cycle, the naja became associated with crop fertility." See less