Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Navajo Turquoise Figural Pin Brooch 8.5g

  

We have similar Navajo and Turquoise items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Listing Description by: Angela A. Markings: "Sterling Handmade" and unidentified maker's mark (Semke) on the back of the brooch, tested, and guaranteed. Color: opaque bright blue hue with a mottled black matrix. 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 locking "c" clasp.

Convertible to Necklace Pendant: If desired, your local jeweler can add a bale to this piece so it can be worn as a pendant. Handmade during the 1980s by a talented Navajo silversmith.

Features a beautiful turquoise stone resting in a bezel setting. This turquoise adorns the motif of a butterfly with outstretched wings.

Completed with a pin stem with a locking "c" clasp, allowing it to be worn on a variety of accessories, including hats, scarves, and lapels. Tarnish on the sterling silver gives this piece an antique quality which we believe is quite lovely. 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 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 wasn't repaid, the item became known as either "Old Pawn" or Dead Pawn.

Turquoise is found all over the world and has been a popular semi-precious stone used in jewelry and art for thousands of years by many different cultures; from prehistoric times to the present. Turquoise comes in many beautiful color variations; from the popular bright solid sky-blue hues to dark blue hues with dark spiderwebbing throughout, as well as aqua, teal, and many green varieties, and even some rare white with dark spiderwebbing. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Brooches & Pins". The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in this country: US.

This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Handmade: Yes
• Country of Origin: United States - Navajo Nation
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Department: Unisex Adults
• Modified Item: No
• Closure: Pin stem and locking \
• Setting Style: Bezel
• Theme: Animals & Insects
• Type: Brooch
• Antique: No
• Vintage: Yes
• Metal Purity: .925
• Main Stone: Turquoise
• Brand: Semke
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
• Era: Vintage Native Navajo c.

  1960s

• Ethnic & Regional Style: Native American