Antique Navajo Turquoise and Sterling Silver Squash Blossom Necklace

This is a quintessential example of Native American (Navajo/Diné) silversmithing, likely dating from the mid-20th century. The necklace features a central sandcast 'Naja' pendant adorned with stamped sunburst and crescent eye motifs, housing a single triangular turquoise stone in a simple bezel. The body of the necklace consists of a double strand of hand-wrought 'bench beads' (seamless silver spheres) punctuated by fourteen individual 'squash blossoms.' Each blossom is set with a free-form, bright blue turquoise stone, possibly from the Sleeping Beauty or Kingman mine, displaying a characterful golden-brown matrix. The stones are held in serrated bezels atop sandcast blossom stems. The silver exhibits a rich, natural dark oxidation in the recessed areas, highlighting the hand-stamped details and the textures of the sandcasting. Construction is heavy and robust, suggesting high-quality handiwork. There is visible wear consistent with age, including minor surface scratches on the silver and a soft patina on the turquoise stones. The necklace terminates in a traditional hook-and-eye closure. No visible maker's marks are present, which is common for older authentic tribal pieces of this era.