Minneapolis Institute of Art

Necklace

Diné (Navajo) artist

Date

1940s–50s

Medium

Silver, turquoise

Culture

Diné (Navajo)

Department

Arts of the Americas

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Necklaces are one of the most distinctive types of Southwest jewelry. Modified from an earlier design of carved turquoise beads, the classic form is made of cast or hammered silver. Round beads are interspersed with squash blossom ones, a shape adapted from a Spanish pomegranate decorative motif. The crescent-shaped pendant, or naja, is purely an aesthetic element, to provide a visual focus for each necklace. Over time, the original form became ever more elaborate, with additional turquoise added at crucial design points for greater ornamentation. The creativity of the artist is expressed through their combination of all these varied elements into a beautiful and harmonious whole. Diné (Navajo), United States, Americas

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