This listing features a vintage Navajo hand made sterling silver turquoise bib necklace. This piece was hand made by renowned Navajo Artist, Victor Moses Begay. It dates back to the Native American jewelry boom of the late 60s through the early 80s. This beautiful piece by Begay is an excellent example of authentic Native American jewelry. Every stone is original to when the piece was made and in great condition. The 163 hand-cut and polished stones are all secure inside sawtooth bezels. I have inspected each stone and can guarantee there are no cracks or inclusions. The stones have amazing color hues of bold ocean blues with varying matrixes. They are some of the bluest turquoise stones I have ever seen…. The Naja is very large and ornate with a total of 68 hand cut stones. Of the 68 stones, there are large teardrop stones, small tear drop stones, snake eye stones, and the large round center stone. The stones are situated symmetrically over a thick bed of silver along with cutouts to the silver in the center. Begay also applied several twisted ropes and silver droplets to accompany each outer edge stone. This being said, the Naja is the showcase of the necklace. The connector piece that is attached to the Naja and side rails is a freely moving starburst shaped piece that matches the inner portion of the Naja. Wide flattened silver hoops, showing off snake eye stones, were used to attach the side rails and connector. Theyre attached on each side with strong silver rope coming off the bottom of the side rails. The 2 side rails are just as beautiful and coincide perfectly with the Naja. Each rail features 15 of the larger teardrop stones in a vertical line with 16 neighboring snake eye stones. Following the design of the Naja, Begay added silver ropes between the stones and silver droplets to the tips of each teardrop stone. To finish the design Begay used flattened square shaped loops(like used at the connector), all adorned with a snake eye stone. Each side contains 10 of the wide flattened hoops with snake eye stones and travels up to where the design is finished. Silver triangles are looped through the last flattened hoop of the necklace and from there up to the hook and clasp are oval rings. Each and every ring is soldered shut. The rings, hook, and triangular clasp are all made of high quality silver, therefore its hard to bend them out of shape. Its a very well made and solid piece from Start to Finish. This item has not been cleaned or polished and has been left in its original state. This work of Art by Begay is a fine example of vintage Native American culture, one that will last for years and be handed down for generations. Be the new owner of this stunning piece, that isnt just a necklace but also a tangible asset that will appreciate over the years…. Cherish and enjoy for now…. And pass down to loved ones in the future. Weight – 110.5 Grams / 3.9 ounces. Length From End to End – 22-1/2 (not including Naja). Naja Including Connector Piece – 4-3/4 Tall by 3-1/8 Wide. Connector Piece – 1-3/4 long by 1-1/4 wide. 2 Side Rails – 3-3/4 Long by 7/8 Wide. Flattened chain with snake eye stones – 5-7/8 Lon g (on each side) by 1/4 Wide – measured from first flattened link to last flattened link. Total Number of Stones Used – 163 Total Stones. Center Naja Stone – 3/8 in diameter. Large Teardrop Stones – 5/16 Long by 3/16 Wide. Small Teardrop Stones – 1/4 Long by 1/8 Wide. Snake Eye Stones – just under 3/16 in diameter. Stamped Sterling – NO, tested and verified. Signed by Artist – YES, Navajo Artist, Victor Moses Begay. Mid to Later Mid Century, late 60s – early 80s. Condition – Preowned, in excellent vintage condition, with all original stones and patina, ready to display or wear. I treat every item as if it were my own. Extra bubble wrap and packing materials are used to ensure a safe arrival to its new owner. Please see all 12 photos!! Enlarge them and study them. Ask any questions you may have. Im always here to help and I respond quickly and nicely. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING AUTHENTIC NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY! The item “Vintage Navajo Sterling Silver Gem Turquoise Squash Blossom Cluster Necklace” is in sale since Monday, April 13, 2020. This item is in the category “Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Necklaces & Pendants”. The seller is “native-obsession” and is located in Burgaw, North Carolina. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, South africa, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, Egypt, French guiana, Guernsey, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jersey, Jordan, Cambodia, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Monaco, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Uruguay.
- Jewelry Type: Necklaces
- Metal: Sterling Silver
- Main Stone: Turquoise
- Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
- Brand: Native American
- Featured Refinements: Squash Blossom Necklace
- Type: Bib Necklace
- Material: Turquoise
- Metal Purity: .925
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Country of Origin: United States
- Artisan: Victor Moses Begay