Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Zuni Turquoise Petit Point Necklace 7.5g

We have similar Petit Point and Native American items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. Listing Description by: Angela A. Markings : Unmarked, tested, and guaranteed. Length: 4.42 mm to 5.90 mm.

Width : 1.78 mm to 2.19 mm. Color: opaque bright blue hue.

Stone Treatment : The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester.

Stone Cuts : Carved and polished cabochon. Chain width: 2.63 mm.

Pendant measurements : 2.20" length, 0.66" width. Handmade in the 1960s by a talented Zuni silversmith.

Beautiful turquoise stones adorn the motif of a thunderbird. Each stone rests in a saw tooth bezel setting arranged in the petit point style. When worn, the necklace sits against the décolletage on most people. Tarnish on the sterling silver gives the necklace an antique quality we believe is rather lovely.

The price has been reduced to reflect this. This listing is for the item only. This beautiful piece was made by a very talented Native American silversmith. It features handcrafted silversmith work throughout.

Antique Native American jewelry is very rare to find. This is due to these pieces being made for reservation and personal use before the tourist trade became popular. Very few pieces were made and even less survived to today. The Zuni Nation is well known for their stone inlay work, mosaic-like images depicting religious and cultural motifs created from materials that were readily available. Their modern work is well known for its bold stone colors; often turquoise and coral are used. It is rare for their pieces to be signed, as the Zuni People believe artwork belongs to the entire community. Petit Point is a style of stone cutting started by the Zuni Native American Tribe, beginning around the 1920s. It involves cutting small uniform shaped stones (round, oval, square, and pear-shaped) which all face in the same direction.

Sometimes the term Needle Point is used to describe pieces made of straight long narrow stones that are pointed at both ends. Zuni silversmiths continue to produce Petit Point in the same tradition; it is a very difficult way to cut a stone and looks beautiful in silver jewelry.

Turquoise is found all over the world and has been a popular semi-precious stone used in jewelry and art for thousands of years by many different cultures; from prehistoric times to the present. Turquoise comes in many beautiful color variations; from the popular bright solid sky-blue hues to dark blue hues with dark spiderwebbing throughout, as well as aqua, teal, and many green varieties, and even some rare white with dark spiderwebbing.

The story and nuances behind the Native American thunderbird symbol varies from tribe to tribe, but almost universally it represents concepts such as power, transformation, divine dominion, and the unbeatable spirit. Some tribes viewed the thunderbird as an omen of war, and believed it could foretell victory. Other tribes viewed the thunderbird as a divine nature spirit, whose eyes were made from the sun, and who, upon waking each morning, brought the new day. When angered, the thunderbirds wings created thunder, and lightning flared from its eyes, creating terrifying storms. The thunderbird was considered to be creator, destroyer, and controller of nature, and was to be honored and revered.

The item "Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Zuni Turquoise Petit Point Necklace 7.5g" is in sale since Saturday, September 4, 2021. This item is in the category "Jewelry & Watches\Ethnic, Regional & Tribal\Native American\Necklaces & Pendants". The seller is "abeautifultimeco" and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Country of Origin: United States - Zuni Nation
Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Clasp/Closure Type: Hook and eye clasp
Link Type: Elongated cable chain
Antique: Yes
Vintage: Yes
Era: Vintage Native Navajo C.

1960
Featured Refinements: Zuni Jewelry
Metal Purity: .925
Main Stone: Turquoise
Metal: Sterling Silver
Jewelry Type: Necklaces
Tribal Affiliation: Zuni
Ethnic & Regional Style: Native American