Antique Vintage 925 Sterling Silver Native Navajo Malachite Spider Pin Brooch

  

We have similar Navajo and Sterling Silver items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Listing Description by: Angela A. Age Circa: Antique Native Navajo C. Markings: Unmarked, tested, and guaranteed.

Country of Origin: United States - Navajo Nation. Gram Weight: 10.3 grams. Color: opaque dark green hue with bands of lighter green and white. Stone Treatment: The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists.

Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester. Stone Cuts: Carved and polished cabochon. Pin/Brooch Style: Brooch, lapel pin, hat pin, scarf pin, tie pin. Closure Type: Pin stem with a locking "c" clasp. Convertible to Necklace Pendant: If desired, your local jeweler could add a bale to this piece so it could be worn as a pendant. Handmade during the 1960s by a talented Navajo artisan. 925 sterling silver crafted into the motif of a spider with eight realistic curling legs. A beautiful green malachite stone with deeper green and white bands adorns the body of the brooch. Completed with a pin stem and a locking "c" clasp, allowing it to be worn on a variety of accessories, including hats, scarves, and lapels, among many others. This listing is for the item only.

This beautiful piece was made by a very talented Native American silversmith. It features handcrafted silversmith work throughout. Antique Native American jewelry is very rare to find. This is due to these pieces being made for reservation and personal use before the tourist trade became popular. Very few pieces were made and even less survived to today.

The Navajo Nation sits on 27,000 square miles within the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The Navajo have a rich history and culture and have become known for creating some of the finest sterling silver and turquoise jewelry, incorporating their own traditional motifs with silversmithing. The squash blossom necklace is perhaps one of the most famous Navajo styles produced, along with turquoise inlay rings.

Turquoise is an important stone in Navajo culture; symbolizing happiness, good fortune, and good health. The first Navajo silversmith, Atsidi Sani, was taught around 1865 by a Mexican silversmith. Atsidi Sani in turn taught his four sons, who then started teaching other Navajo artisans. In the beginning, Navajo artisans created sterling silver jewelry for themselves and others in the Navajo Nation. The concept of Pawn, Old Pawn, and Dead Pawn Native American Jewelry came to be in the 1800s.

When a loan wasnt repaid, the item became known as either Old Pawn or Dead Pawn. Malachite is a popular stone which has light and dark green opaque banded areas. Malachite is a result of weathering copper ores. Many beautiful specimens of malachite contain special combinations with other minerals, such as azurite, cuprite, or chrysocolla. Malachite was used in antiquity until about 1800 for green paints.

The item "Antique Vintage 925 Sterling Silver Native Navajo Malachite Spider Pin Brooch" is in sale since Saturday, May 9, 2020. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Pins, Brooches". The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Country of Origin: United States - Navajo Nation
• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Metal Purity: .925
• Main Stone: Malachite
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• Jewelry Type: Pins
• Tribal Affiliation: Navajo