Pawn Jewelry- Navajo Naja mini pendant

Navajo handcrafted pendant & chain. The unique shape of the pendant is called a Naja.The Naja is a crescent-shaped piece that is often worn alone as a pendant or as the center piece of a squash blossom necklace in Southwestern Indian jewelry. ... The word “naja” is the Navajo word for “crescent”. “Naja” is the name the Navajo gave to a symbol believed to have originated in the Middle East in ancient times.

 It comes attached to its original red pawn ticket.The term "pawn" refers to jewelry that has been pawned to brokers. The practice of pawning jewelry began in the early 1900s when Native Americans and traders would exchange jewelry for food and other necessities, it is still used today and is embedded in the Navajo culture. 

Material: Sterling silver 

Tribe affiliation: Navajo

Time period: current 

Overall measurements of the mounting: 3/4" x 3/4" ( 20" silver chain included)