Necklace after 1930

Editor: This lovely silver necklace, made by a Navajo artist around the 1930s, features these small, almost lunar crescent shapes. I’m really curious about what they signify. What’s your interpretation of the symbolism in this piece? Curator: The crescent, you see, has existed for millennia in the human imagination. Here, within Navajo silversmithing, what does this 'naja' represent to you? Editor: I see the repeating crescents and they do make me think about lunar cycles, or maybe even protection... but, well, is it more specific than that? Curator: Precisely! Think about context. Beyond just appealing decoration, the naja mirrors a deeply felt cosmology. It evokes traditional stories and signifies connection. It isn’t just adornment, it echoes important stories and beliefs about harmony. The upside down U shapes might recall certain architectural motifs. Editor: So it connects personal adornment with larger cultural and symbolic systems? Like, linking the wearer to Diné cosmology. Curator: Absolutely. It serves as a constant, visual reminder of belonging. It is more than decoration, and, further, protection in some cases. This visual element may also show up as decoration on hogans, and it echoes what can be sacred sites. Editor: That's amazing. So, looking at this necklace, we’re looking at a personal connection to history and belief. Curator: Yes, symbols persist for reasons. They connect the past, present, and future, and often the human with the non-human. And this necklace serves as a reminder of those deep ties.