Bracelet c. 1940

This bracelet was made by the Navajo, or Diné people, and it features prominently turquoise stones set in silver. In Diné culture, turquoise is far more than a pretty stone: it represents Sky Father and is seen as a powerful protective force. This reverence for turquoise echoes through time. Consider the ancient Egyptians, who adorned themselves with turquoise, believing it held divine power. Or even the Tibetans, for whom turquoise symbolizes good health and fortune. Such connections remind us that certain materials, through their beauty and perceived metaphysical properties, become charged with cultural meaning, passed down through generations. We see the shimmering blue of turquoise not merely as decoration, but as a conduit to the sacred. The Navajo, like cultures before and alongside them, imbue this stone with hope, protection, and a deep connection to the cosmos, a primal human urge to find meaning and solace in the world around us. This collective yearning is a powerful emotional and psychological force, shaping how we perceive and interact with such culturally significant objects.