An Amazing Squash Blossom Necklace from Zuni Pueblo [SOLD]

Sometime in the history of Native American jewelry from the Southwest, someone named a necklace, such as this one, a “squash blossom” necklace.  Technically, the blossoms attached to the necklace were derived from the pomegranate.  The area with the small turquoise cabs that looks like a blossom and the silver protrusions were copied from the silver pomegranate blossoms seen on the trousers of the vaquero from Spain and Mexico.  Regardless of the name, these have been among the most popular Native necklaces for decades, certainly as early as pre-World War II.

This necklace consists of double strands of handmade silver beads over which are 14 blossoms, each of which is comprised of all-natural turquoise. The naja suspended as a pendant on the necklace was another item lifted from visitors to the Southwest—Spaniards who rode their magnificent horses with elaborate harness hardware which included a naja draped over the forehead of the horse.  So, the necklace is a combination of favored items from the vaquero and their horses. 

This necklace has all the original turquoise cabs still intact.  It is most likely from the 1940s era.

Condition: very good condition

Recommended Reading:  Zuni Jewelry by Theda and Michael Bassman.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Provenance: from a gentleman in New Orleans who inherited it from an aunt who traveled the Southwest in the mid-20^th century.