Large Navajo disc earrings w/red spiny oyster shell

Navajo handcrafted earrings featuring a large piece of red spiny oyster shell in a shadow box silver disc. This style is unique to the Navajo silversmiths. The red is a spiny oyster shell most commonly found in the gulf of Mexico. It is harvested by free divers in the ocean. 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 & red spiny oyster shell

Tribe affiliation: Navajo

Time period: current 

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