EARLY 1900'S VINTAGE NAVAJO Shadow Box Kingman TURQUOISE STERLING SILVER PIN

  
This is a superior vintage Navajo silver pin. This pin is a unique shadow box shape and consists of a beautiful oval shaped kingman turquoise stone. Situated throughout the pin are amazing stamp works. The pin contains beautiful old natural patina. The stone measure around 8mmx4.5mm Sterling silver. The pin measures around 1? No marks but tested as sterling silver Silversmithing is the most popular form of jewelry making in the Southwest.

Early in the 1800s, Spanish and later Mexican silver work was seen among the Southwestern Native Americans. In the 1850s Navajo artists learned how to work silver from Mexican smiths. Hopis learned the skill from the Zuni.

By 1875 Navajos melted Mexican and American silver coins and poured the silver into molds carved from sandstone. Sterling silver jewelry was soldered and decorated by beads, scrolls etc. Lapidary skills had been passed down from generation to generation. This led to setting stone on stone in mosaics.

However the popular use of setting turquoise in silver did not become common until 1880 when turquoise became more readily available. Coral and other semi-precious stones gradually also began to be used.

With the advent of the railroad and trading posts Native American jewelry grew and developed. New techniques led to styles known today, knowledge and appreciation by the public has also grown with time.

Native American jewelry is truly a varied and beautiful form of artistic expression. Native American jewelry is prized by many. It has developed into different beautiful styles by various tribes.