Outstanding Navajo Squash Blossom Necklace, circa 1930s [SOLD]

Early Diné jewelry contained elements that were borrowed directly from Spanish colonial and Mexican ornament. One of these items is the naja, a crescent form of Moorish origin. The Spanish conquerors in the Southwest outfitted their horses in elaborate silver ornaments—one of which was the naja that hung directly on the forehead of the horse as a part of the bridle.

The Diné incorporated the naja in their jewelry as a pendant dangling from silver necklaces, commonly called squash blossom necklaces. In this instance, a beautiful cast silver naja with a small silver button at each end and stamping around the interior of the curve is suspended from a string of handmade silver beads and glass beads.

Each of the sterling silver beads was handmade and there is interspersed between the silver beads, a variety of glass beads, mostly red white heart beads and a few other colorful glass beads.  There are eight silver blossoms and a silver cross at the lower end of the necklace. 

This is the style necklace made by a Diné, generally from a mixture of items on hand, for use by a Diné, not necessarily for sale.  The difference is non-Indian buyers of this period (circa 1930s) preferred more elaborate silverwork and more consistency in style and materials.  A necklace of this style and composition is the ultimate in pure Diné artistry and creativity and is much more preferable to one made strictly to sell.