NAVJAO HANDCRAFTED SQUASH BLOSSOM BY THOMAS FRANCISCO
This is a medium sized squash blossom necklace with beautiful green Turquoise.It is set in a antique finish sterling silver. The Navajo artist is Thomas Francisco. He is known for his traditional styled jewelry. The Necklace measures approximately 26" in length and features 18 blossoms (measuring 1" x 1/2") and a small Naja (measuring 1"1/2 x 1"1/2). The Naja is made with a traditional style that is perfectly balanced and easy to wear.
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.
Kingman Turquoise originates in the Mineral Park Mining District near Kingman, Arizona. One of the largest domestic turquoise mines, it is found in a large open pit copper mine in the high desert country. The Kingman Mine district was first mined by Native Americans; it was part of the most extensive prehistoric workings in Arizona.