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An antique Isleta Pueblo necklace + antique hat. Makes me feel like a young'un.
Navajo Silversmith Will Barnes is known for his stamping work & produces some beautiful cigar band & old style concho rings. When I saw the heavy shank stamping & the castellated crown in 925k Sterling Silver with the Morenci II turquoise in my ring size, I had to have it.
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Impressive piece of work! That stone is truly something!!!
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The turquoise vain of the Morenci II mine in Greenlee county, AZ produced turquoise that was more green in color than the other Morenci mines. All the Morenci mines produce turquoise with heavy silicates & black pyrite inclusions (fools gold). When polished they reflect light like silver & gold. The Morenci II vain played out in the 1960's. The others are still being mined.
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Such beautiful works of silver.
Thanks Alan! It’s the sellers claim, Mark Sublette. It came with a decent amount of information and provenance regarding the original owner but no idea how the date estimation came to be.
He's recognized as a knowledgable dealer and very well might be right. I think the parts of many squash blossom necklaces were likely assembled and disassembled and assembled again. The stamping, decorative filing on the blossom posts and turquoise cabochons suggest a 1930s piece to me. The fox chain is certainly later but it might have been restrung more than once over the years. It has a wonderful look. It has great size - is it heavy?
I have a new (old) necklace waiting to receive. I love these pieces - have to learn how to wear them more often. Bracelets and rings are easy - necklaces a little more complicated for me.