Necklace c. 1940s - 1950s

This beautiful squash blossom necklace was made by a Navajo artist, likely from silver and coral. Imagine the artist carefully stringing each one of those tiny silver beads, feeling their cool smoothness against their fingertips. You can almost see them arranging the little silver squash blossoms, each holding a bright red coral gem, a burst of color against the muted silver. The beads and blossoms are meticulously arranged in a pleasing symmetrical pattern. The naja is such a cool focal point: an inverted crescent moon cradling another coral gem. You know, making jewelry isn’t all that different from making a painting. It's about composing elements, balancing colors, and creating a rhythm. Each piece tells a story, not just of the artist, but of the materials themselves and the traditions they carry. It’s really amazing how artists can draw inspiration from one another, across generations and different art forms, to create something new and meaningful.