Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Navajo Turquoise Concho Earrings 15.8g

  

We have similar Native, Concho, and Navajo items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Listing Description by: Angela A. Markings : Unmarked, tested, and guaranteed. Country of Origin : United States - Navajo Nation.

Gram Weight : 15.8 grams. 925 sterling silver earrings, copper beads, base metal bullet backing. Length: 5.59 mm to 10.14 mm. Width : 4.53 mm to 6.17 mm.

Accent Stone : Red coral, shell, faux resin bone. Red coral : 2.14 mm to 2.62 mm diameter, opaque pink-red hue. Shell : 7.82 mm to 9.76 mm diameter, 3.88 mm & 3.96 mm diameter (smaller beads); 1.31 mm to 1.78 mm depth, opaque cream hues. Faux resin bone: 5.84 mm to 6.03 mm diameter, 2.50 mm depth to 2.61 mm depth, opaque cream-brown hues. Stone Treatment: Faux resin bone is a manufactured stone.

The coral, turquoise, and shell stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.

Stone Cuts : Tumbled and polished turquoise beads, polished and rounded coral, faux resin bone, and shell beads, carved and polished disk shell beads. Length: 3.12" & 3.14". Width: 1.21" & 1.22".

Earring Backing Style : Post and bullet backing; one earring is missing a post backing. Your jeweler can easily convert these to the preferred backing style you desire. For Pierced or Non-Pierced Ears : Pierced. Handmade during the 1920s by a talented Navajo silversmith.

925 sterling silver, as well as small copper beads and a base metal bullet backing. Each earring features a huge upper concho motif with a hand-hammered design created using the repousse metalworking technique. Dangling from the concho are multiple strands of beads strung on wire. Large sterling silver round and elongated motifs dangle from the earrings. Strung on the wire are sterling silver bench beads, as well as copper, turquoise, red coral, faux resin bone, and shell beads.

Several of the shell beads were carved into disk shapes, while the turquoise stone were tumbled and polished. Finished with a posts and bullet backing for wear on pierced ears. One of the earrings is missing its post and bullet backing; this can be replaced by your local jeweler.

There is minor tarnish on the sterling silver in some areas, which gives the earrings a lovely antique quality. The price has been reduced to reflect this. This listing is for the item only. This beautiful piece was made by a very talented Native American silversmith. It features handcrafted silversmith work throughout.

Antique Native American jewelry is very rare to find. This is due to these pieces being made for reservation and personal use before the tourist trade became popular.

Very few pieces were made and even less survived to today. The concept of Pawn, Old Pawn, and Dead Pawn Native American Jewelry came to be in the 1800s. When a loan wasnt repaid, the item became known as either Old Pawn or Dead Pawn. The Navajo Nation sits on 27,000 square miles within the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The Navajo have a rich history and culture and have become known for creating some of the finest sterling silver and turquoise jewelry, incorporating their own traditional motifs with silversmithing.

The squash blossom necklace is perhaps one the most famous Navajo styles produced, along with turquoise inlay rings. Turquoise is an important stone in Navajo culture; symbolizing happiness, good fortune, and good health. The first Navajo silversmith, Atsidi Sani, was taught around 1865 by a Mexican silversmith. Atsidi Sani in turn taught his four sons, who then started teaching other Navajo artisans.

In the beginning, Navajo artisans created sterling silver jewelry for themselves and others in the Navajo Nation. Navajo silversmiths, working from 1870 to 1900, learned about stamping from Mexican leather workers, and adopted this to their metal working. Artisans made their own stamps that were passed down to each generation. Stampings are usually hand hammered using handcrafted or die stamps and include traditional Native American symbols, such as sunbursts, to ornate landscapes.

This technique has been passed on and utilized by other Native American tribes and continues to be a popular method of jewelry making. Turquoise is found all over the world and has been a popular semi-precious stone used in jewelry and art for thousands of years by many different cultures; from prehistoric times to the present. Turquoise comes in many beautiful color variations; from the popular bright solid sky-blue hues to dark blue hues with dark spiderwebbing throughout, as well as aqua, teal, and many green varieties, and even some rare white with dark spiderwebbing. Red coral has played an important part in Chinese art, culture, and style throughout history and into the 21st century.

Red coral has been used as an ornamental stone or material in Chinese jewelry, carvings, and sculptures because of its vibrant variety of red hues. In ancient times, red coral was delivered to China by the Silk Roads from Italy, by sea from the Persian Gulf, and from the Mediterranean Sea via the Indian Ocean. The amount of natural red color has dramatically decreased in recent years due to environmental factors and coral harvesting. The quantity of manufactured coral on the market has increased as the popularity of Chinese red coral continues. Repoussé began as an ancient metalworking technique dating as far back as the 3rd century BC, involving malleable metal that was hammered onto the reverse side to create an image on the front. Examples are found all over the world; Greece, Egypt, and even the Hopewell periods in the American southeast.

Reverse side hammering was also used to add detail to the front, creating intricate patterns using grooves, indentations, and channeling. The piece was then carefully polished to create a hollow, eye-catching treasure. The item "Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Navajo Turquoise Concho Earrings 15.8g" is in sale since Sunday, March 28, 2021. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Earrings".

The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Country of Origin: United States
• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Ethnic Origin: Navajo
• Featured Refinements: Navajo Earrings
• Accent Stone: Red Coral
• Accent Stone #2: Shell
• Accent Stone #3: Faux Resin Bone
• Metal Purity: .

  925

• Main Stone: Turquoise
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• Jewelry Type: Earrings
• Tribal Affiliation: Navajo