Necklace after 1930

This beautiful necklace was crafted in silver by a Navajo artist. It’s undated, but when I look at it, I imagine the artist carefully stringing each bead, lost in the rhythmic motion, and considering how the weight of the final piece will feel against the skin. The surface has a lovely patina that suggests age, and the careful construction of the beads and pendants show a clear intention to create something that is both beautiful and functional. Each element – from the tiny spheres to the stylized pendant – communicates a feeling of balance, precision, and care. When I see works like this, I'm reminded that artists of all kinds—painters, sculptors, jewelers—are in an ongoing conversation, with each piece a response to what has come before, and an invitation to what might follow. It leaves me thinking about the ongoing dialogue between tradition and innovation that shapes artistic expression.