Featured What are your thoughts on this silver necklace?

Not sure of origin. Not marked. Bought in France.

 

Navajo a long way from home. What say you @Any Jewelry ?

I'd have grabbed that very fast and run away with it.

 

that's what it looks like...........and it's very nice !!!!!

 

@popsycat, you had me at:

 

I agree, Navajo style, certainly Southwestern, and could be Navajo made.
Older, with those backs, no marks, no colour-matched stones, and gorgeous links.
It is an elegant beauty, and I would have bought it too. It clearly shows the Navajo floral style's Art Nouveau roots.

@reader, would you agree possible Navajo?

 

If not, it was made by someone who liked Navajo jewelry. It appears mostly hand made with some pre-made chain added.

 

The chain looks handmade with the same half round stock as the hook.

 

My Mother loved turquoise and silver. She had a necklace similar to this and called it her concho. I think the stones were more round, not sure. I don't know anything about it, never got the love for it but this one is beautiful. I am sure the jewelry people will figure it out.

 

Very beautiful and unique. The turquoise looks like Kingman turquoise (Arizona) to me.

 

I did!!!!

 

Thank you everyone. I bought it in a depot vente (a shop where people put stuff into sell) I paid 20 euros for it and shoved it in my bag as soon as possible. I love it, but honestly was not sure about it. It's all about the thrill of the chase.

 

I'd definitely have snarfed it for that. It would have joined The Hoard.

 

Wow, you lucky girl!

 

Notice how the bottom link looks like an ant (note the antennas and large abdomen) on top of two leaves, and the link above that one looks like a butterfly (with antennas, portioned body and with the two leaves comprising the top portions of its wings, and the two turquoise cabochons below comprising the bottom portions of its wings).

 

Not a joolie, but that is a nice statement piece.

 

Agree it's Navajo, "old pawn," as we say here in western US, nice natural nugget stones; agree may be Kingman. Not a "concho"; more likely 1940s-50s tourist trade sold at someplace like the Portale of the Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe. Early pieces like this were never signed.I t was considered then to be boastful/prideful and therefore inappropriate. The butterfly similarity likely not intended. The silver should test at better than .900 and up. A very good piece that here in pawn shops would fetch +/- $125US or better if the turquoise were authenticated. Very nice...

 

Welcome Kathy.

Although older NA jewellery is often called Old Pawn by some sellers, this necklace is not actually Old Pawn. Because others who may be new to NA jewellery also read these threads, we usually explain the term to avoid confusion.

Old Pawn was part of the Navajo financial system. Navajo couldn't get bank loans so they invested in silver and turquoise when times were good, to pawn them when they needed a loan. Which is why the pieces they pawned always had a substantial weight in silver and turquoise. Those were the chunky pieces they wore themselves.
With many pieces we will never know if they were Old Pawn, others come with provenance.
The delicate design of this necklace speaks against it being Old Pawn. As you said, it is likely to be 1940s-50s tourist trade item.

 

Thank you for all the help. It has cleared up questions I had about the necklace. I always say, if you see something that makes your toes curl, and you can afford it, buy it.

 

It would only be "trouble" if the OP called it "dead pawn". In order to take that designation it has to come with a bill of sale from a pawn shop. Without it, it's just old.

 

Yup; thanks for the distinction. Will be better in definitions.