Circa 1915 Navajo Silver and Turquoise Squash Blossom Necklace [SOLD]

The original owner of this amazingly beautiful Navajo-made squash blossom necklace, Mona Morse Walker, formerly of New York, came to New Mexico in 1916 with her husband, who had just been selected by Calvin Coolidge to be on the Pueblo Lands Board.  The two men had been college classmates. For the next two years, when they made several trips, she purchased many items of Native jewelry, as evidenced by the attached photograph.

There are 28 handmade silver beads, 18 handmade silver blossoms, and an elaborate naja with a crown on top and a turquoise dangle in the center.  The 13 turquoise cabs in the horseshoe naja are all natural turquoise of various mines.  The necklace is rather short and rides high around the neck, so an extender chain has been added to lengthen the necklace to a comfortable position when worn.

It is so rare to find documentation on items of such age.  The current owner is the wife of the grandson of the original owner, so the necklace has stayed in the same family for three generations.

Condition: the necklace is in remarkable condition.

Provenance: from the original owner, Mona Morse Walker, passed through the family to the current family member living in Santa Fe.

Recommended Reading: Indian Silver Jewelry of the Southwest: 1868-1930 by Frank and Holbrook

Photo courtesy of the current owner of this necklace.