Zuni Pueblo Snake Eyes Squash Blossom Necklace by Bernard Bowekaty [SOLD]

This elegant and elaborate squash blossom necklace is unique in its design in that the artisan added snake eyes turquoise at the edges of the blossoms.  The necklace consists of double rows of handmade silver beads, twelve blossoms attached to the beads, and a naja with a squash blossom pendant from its center.

The jeweler and lapidary artist, Bernard Bowekaty, was born around 1927 and passed away before 1980.  He was a member of Zuni Pueblo and one of his specialties was jewelry with snake eyes turquoise jewelry cabochons.  His hallmark was back-to-back B’s as appears on this necklace.  

Early Navajo-made 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.

Condition: this Zuni Pueblo Snake Eyes Squash Blossom Necklace by Bernard Bowekaty is in excellent condition

Provenance: from the collection of a resident of Santa Fe

Reference: American Indian Jewelry II: A-L 1,800 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

Relative Links: Necklaces, Zuni Pueblo, Southwest Indian Jewelry, Bernard Bowekaty