Navajo dangle earrings w/ spiny oyster shell-Pawn Jewelry

Navajo handcrafted earrings featuring a large piece of orange  spiny oyster shell and dangle from a silver disc. This style is unique to the Navajo silversmiths. The have a medium weight for their size. Sterling silver post and backings

 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 & orange spiny oyster shell

Tribe affiliation: Navajo

Time period: current 

Overall measurements : 1-1/2" ( all measurements are approximate)