{"product_id":"native-american-silver-teardrop-bead-necklace-with-pendant","title":"Native American Silver Bead Necklace with Tear Drop Pendant","description":"\u003cp\u003eA sterling silver bead necklace. This is a fine and quite early example of a Native American, hand-made bead necklace with a fine hanging turquoise set pendant. These types of necklaces have been a popular adornment for members of various Native American's for hundreds of years. This example is no different. It features a long pinched oval bead, flanked by a round ball \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003esquashed bead. All of these beads run over a fine sterling silver chain. This is much more resilient than cord or more modern stringing techniques. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pendant is quite a statement piece. It is formed in a pear shape like design with a large tear drop turquoise beautifully vivd blue stone set into it. Running along the \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ecabochon stones' edge is a hand braided sterling rope design detail. The mount it is set on is surrounded by a scalloped silver edge and silver beads from one to four soldered onto the pendant. Although quite large, measuring 1.65\" north to south, it is hollow in the center, so is not overly heavy to wear, and uncomfortable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-3 last:mb-0\"\u003eEach Native American tribe has its own distinctive jewelry-making style, a testament to the rich cultural diversity of the region. While artists from tribes like the Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, and Santo Domingo have at times ventured beyond their traditional aesthetics, their respective jewelry-making techniques remain the hallmarks of their enduring artistic legacies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-3 last:mb-0\"\u003eThe Zuni are renowned for their mastery of mosaic, channel inlay, cluster, needlepoint, and petit point designs, showcasing a dazzling array of stones and shells. The Navajo, on the other hand, are famed for their iconic Squash Blossom Necklaces, featuring large turquoise, coral, and other stones framed by intricate scrolls, beads, and leaf patterns in sterling silver. As the largest producers of Native American jewelry, the Navajo have elevated this art form to new heights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-3 last:mb-0\"\u003eIn contrast, the Hopi silversmiths favor the overlay technique, rarely incorporating stones, and instead relying on the interplay of oxidized backgrounds and polished silver designs to create their distinctive pieces. The Santo Domingo, with their centuries-old bead-making traditions, incorporate seashells, turquoise, jet, and coral into their captivating jewelry, with each painstakingly hand-crafted Heishi bead testament to their unwavering dedication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-3 last:mb-0\"\u003eUnderpinning the diverse jewelry traditions of these tribes is the use of sterling silver, a malleable alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper, which allows for the intricate craftsmanship that has come to define Native American jewelry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-3 last:mb-0\"\u003eFrom the northern reaches of Arizona and New Mexico to the pueblos of New Mexico, the American Southwest is the vibrant canvas upon which these tribes have honed their artistic mastery, passing down their skills and cultural legacies from one generation to the next. Whether in formal schools or within the cherished confines of family workshops, the enduring spirit of Native American jewelry-making continues to captivate and inspire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-3 last:mb-0\"\u003eThe necklace measures twenty eight inches in length. It features a traditional hook and eye clasp. The condition is excellent overall and has a great patina to the silver, which should be left as found. There is a hand engraved signature on the back of the piece. Whether this is the maker or not is not confirmed. The name is not readily known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"mb-3 last:mb-0\"\u003eMade in America, circa 1960's.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Foundwell","offers":[{"title":"28","offer_id":45781267972286,"sku":"FWMJ2544","price":950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0689\/2617\/files\/0017-1_4248ed1c-6420-49a6-a99f-869c486afba0.jpg?v=1768264338","url":"https:\/\/foundwell.com\/products\/native-american-silver-teardrop-bead-necklace-with-pendant","provider":"Foundwell","version":"1.0","type":"link"}