Vintage 1960's Navajo squash blossom necklace

1960's Navajo handcrafted squash blossom necklace. Made of solid sterling silver and genunie turquoise. This uniquely styled necklace features handmade beads, sand cast blossoms and large Naja. The silver shows its natural patina that reflect the age of the piece. The 12 blossoms are shaped in a traditonal sand cast design with a single turquoise stone in each one. The blossoms measure 3/4" x 1".The handmade beads are approximately 10mm in size. The large Naja is crafted of heavy 1/2 round wire with a round twist wire inset and single dangle blossom. A wonderful example of a 1960's Navajo squash blossom

Measurements: Length - beads 20" / Naja 2-1/2" / total length-22"1/2

Style: SQUASH BLOSSOM NECKLACE: While squash blossom imagery can be found in petroglyphs (rock art) that pre-date European contact in the Southwest, Dubin said the squash blossom necklace was created in the late 1870s or early 1880s after the native people of the area contacted Spanish Mexicans. The Navajo, it is believed, were the first tribe to adopt the design, but by the early 1900s, the art form had spread to neighboring tribes, including the Zuni and the Pueblo. While the entire necklace has taken its name from one type of bead, the classic squash blossom necklace has three distinct parts: the plain round beads; the round beads Naja. It is also representative of the womb, and when a squash blossom necklace features a single turquoise nugget suspended from the Naja, it is often interpreted to be symbolic of a child in the womb.