What are squash blossom necklaces strung on?
What are squash blossom necklaces strung on?
It is presumed that at first the Navajo strung the pendants on a leather strip. There are some who believe the naja was associated with crop fertility, so the pendants would be worn during ceremony. Later silver beads were added, though not in the well-known flower design.
How do you identify squash blossoms?
Check the base of the flower where the blossom meets the stem. Female squash blossoms have a small swollen embryonic fruit at their base, which will grow into a squash if the bee does what bees do. Male squash blossoms are showier and they tend to hang out on long skinny stalks all along the plant.
How much is a squash blossom necklace worth?
Note that many handmade, authentic squash blossom necklace sets are easily worth $1,500, with individual squash blossom pendants being worth over $300. If a seller offers you a necklace for a low price, like $100, you can safely assume that the product is a counterfeit.
What is a Naja charm?
The naja is a crescent-shaped piece that is often worn alone as a pendant or as the center piece of a squash blossom necklace in Southwestern Indian jewelry. Navajo Indian silversmiths began incorporating the naja design into their jewelry.
How much does a squash blossom necklace weigh?
The Necklace weighs approximately 95.7 pennyweights which is equal to 150 grams. Stunning piece! The very fine, vintage Navajo Squash Blossom Necklace shows very well in the photographs.
How can you tell if a squash flower is male or female?
On squash, this is very easy to do. Female flowers will always have a tiny fruit under the flower. Male flowers grow on a long narrow stem. You can also tell the two apart by looking at the reproductive organs found in the center of the flower. The female flowers contain the stigma.
What does a squash blossom represent?
The squash blossom as a design concept originated with the Navajo. They were the first Southwest tribe to utilize the design of the edible gourd, an important source of sustenance. The naja is also representative of the womb; a single nugget of turquoise suspended from the pendant symbolizes a child growing within.
What does Naja mean Native American?
Naja Symbol Meaning The naja is a crescent-shaped piece that is often worn alone as a pendant or as the center piece of a squash blossom necklace in Southwestern Indian jewelry. The word “naja” is the Navajo word for “crescent”. Navajo Indian silversmiths began incorporating the naja design into their jewelry.
What does Naja stand for?
NAJA
| Acronym | Definition |
|---|---|
| NAJA | Native American Journalists Association |
| NAJA | National Association of Jewelry Appraisers |
| NAJA | North American Judo Association (martial arts) |
| NAJA | North Atlantic Jazz Alliance (Fullerton, CA) |
Do you restring squash blossom necklaces?
We restring squash blossom necklaces, heishi strands, nugget necklaces, and sterling silver beads. If your squash blossom necklace keeps flipping over while you wear it, it has probably been strung wrong. We can fix that. We can add stone or silver beads if you are missing any.
What kind of repairs do we do on Native American jewelry?
We do all kinds of repairs and restoration to Native American jewelry. We restring squash blossom necklaces, heishi strands, nugget necklaces, and sterling silver beads. If your squash blossom necklace keeps flipping over while you wear it, it has probably been strung wrong.
Why don’t traditional jewelers repair Navajo jewelry?
The stones are not prong-set, and do not easily come out of their settings without a high risk of breakage. Most traditional jewelers have neither the materials nor the expertise to repair vintage and contemporary pieces made by the Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi tribes of the American southwest.
What can a silversmith do for my necklace?
Our silversmiths are experts at many traditional styles of finishing, such as squaw-wrap and custom silver cones. We can replace worn nylon string with stainless steel wire, braided foxtail wire, or chain. Do not wait until it breaks; send your necklace to us for proper conservatory treatment.
