Native American Navajo Sterling Silver & Turquoise Pendant By Steve Francisco

  

NAVAJO STERLING SILVER & TURQUOISE PENDANT BY STEVE FRANCISCO. Navajo silversmith Steve Francisco made this beautiful sterling silver and Turquoise pendant. A timeless beauty that you will enjoy for years to come. (Chain not included) Weighs 8 grams. 3/4" wide x 1 1/2" long.

The Navajos began working with silver in the 19th century, and began making things like buckles, bridles, buttons, rings, canteens, hollow beads, earrings, crescent-shaped pendants (called "najas"), bracelets, crosses, powder chargers, tobacco canteens, and conchos (for belts). Their silversmithing skills has evolved and changed throughout the years, and in about 1880 Navajo silversmiths started to set turquoise in their silver work. Traditionally, Navajo artists worked with jewelry techniques like repousee and stamp work, but today they explored in other Native American jewelry making techniques like Zuni inlay work and Hopi overlay work.