Authentic Vintage Native American Navajo Sterling Silver Bead Necklace

  

This is a fascinating vintage Navajo all silver bead necklace. This remarkable necklace contains a beautiful plethora of handmade round sun stamped silver beads. It is very rare to find a necklace with every single silver bead consisting of amazing sun stampings, usually the stampings are only on the bottom half or select beads of the necklace. All hand made sterling silver beaded necklace, all stamped, strung in graduated sizes...

Strung on a chain wire Native American Indian made The largest silver bead measures 15mm in diameter. Located on the bottom half of the beads are stunning silver sun stampings.

This necklace contains a wonderful traditional silver clasp. The length of the necklace measures around 18½ Sturdy 34.8grams No marks but tested as sterling silver great addition to your collection The Story Of Navajo Pearls. The beautiful style of jewelry called Desert or Navajo Pearls are sterling silver beads traditionally made by Navajo (Diné) silversmiths. These handmade beads are commonly seen on Squash Blossom necklaces, but are also worn alone on single or multi-strand necklaces and in bracelets. The Navajo is the largest Native American tribe which spans across New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah.

Dating back to the 1500's or earlier, the Navajo were creating beads from the natural materials available to them, including wood, stone, animal bones or teeth, and shells. Through time, new materials such as silver and copper were introduced by the Europeans, and Navajo artists began to include these materials in their creations. The Navajo commonly used beads to tell stories and pass them down from generation to generation. Traditionally, Navajo Pearls are individually made by hand, making each bead one of a kind. Today, when not made by Navajo artisans, these style beads are referred to as Desert Pearls.

Artists express their own style through unique stamping and finishing on these beautiful and timeless creations.