Pawn Jewelry-Zuni needle point squash blossom

1980's Zuni handcrafted squash blossom neckace. This necklace features 12 blossoms and large Naja with over 200 individual hand cut turquoise stones.The shape of the stones is referred to as "needle point" which is a tradional style for the Zuni tribe. Signed by the artist with a scibing pencil " Verna G". 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.This is an outstanding example of a traditional Zuni squash blossom. 

 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.

Material: Sterling silver &  turquoise

Tribe affiliation: Zuni

Time period: 1980's

Measurement: 28' including the Naja

Naja  measurements: 2-1/4" x 2"