This is an amazing vintage Navajo large pendant necklace featuring exquisite Sleeping Beauty turquoise stones, handcarved silver rope, silver beads, and handstamped borders! The center stone measures around 3/4″ x 3/8″ pendant measures 4″inches tall with bale by 2″? Wide sterling silver italian chain measures 20inches long total Weight 94.8grams! Wilbur Musket Navajo is a revival silversmith, creating classic, traditional styles of Navajo jewelry. He still uses many of the old techniques of silverwork, His efforts have won entry into the finest shows and galleries, as well as some of the most exclusive private collections worldwide. Among his awards, first place at the prestigious Inter- Tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup, New Mexico. The Sleeping Beauty mine is seven miles outside Globe, AZ. Sleeping Beauty turquoise is noted for its solid, light blue color with no matrix. The host rock is granite. Sleeping Beauty turquoise is the favorite of Zuni Pueblo lapidaries and silversmiths for the purity in color. This mine was one of the largest in North America. Now, one of the most prolific mines in the US has been closed! The Sleeping Beauty mine produced well, about 1600 pounds a month, according to information obtained from the miner/owner in 2010. The tons of tailings piles, which produced most of the turquoise, have even been exhausted. The beautiful, solid color of Sleeping Beauty is especially beloved by many Europeans. A great amount of this turquoise was exported to Italy & France alone.
