Adobe Gallery Blog
Navajo Silver and Turquoise Squash Blossom Necklace with Tufa Cast Naja - C3864.47
The Navajo incorporated the naja in their jewelry as a pendant dangling on silver necklaces, commonly called squash blossom necklaces. In this instance, a beautiful cast silver naja with a pair of blossoms curving around a fleur de lis and capped with a beautiful blue turquoise cab is suspended from a string of handmade silver beads. The naja was formed by tufa casting, then the turquoise cab was added.
There are 14 silver blossoms and 60 silver beads that were formed as hemispheres and then soldered together to form spheres (see below for detail image). The necklace has silver cones at each end and each of the cones has a saguaro cactus stamped into the silver (see above for detail image). This could be the hallmark of the maker or could be just a decorative touch.