Navajo squash blossom necklace. High grade coral with hand stamped silver beads. The turquoise is from the Kingman Mine in Arizona. Old Pawn. From the Indian Store in Clovis, New Mexico.
The Navajo word for the squash blossom bead literally means “bead that spreads out”. This tri-petal form first appeared about 1880. Scholars believe that this flower motif was introduced by the Spanish as a variation of the pomegranate flower blossom, and the Navajo adapted it as a symbol of their revered squash. Initially the necklaces were rather simple with the tri-petal silver beads interspersed with rather plain beads. In time, stones were added to the blossom beads as demonstrated in our collection. According to the Navajo, the Naja is strictly decorative; however, it has always been held in high regard by the Navajo and other peoples.
PERIOD: Late 20th Century
ORIGIN: Southwest - Navajo, Native American