Vintage pawn Navajo jewelry, a squash blossom necklace approximately 13 inches long. approximate total weight: 144 g

Notes:Turner Auctions + Appraisals is pleased to offer the private collection of Southwest jewelry from a major dealer/collector, Part 1. The owner was a major dealer and collector of Navajo, Zuni and Hopi jewelry in Southern California for over 30 years. From the mid-1970s to the early 2000s, he operated a retail business that sold vintage, contemporary and custom Southwest jewelry to movie studios, prop and costume houses, and collectors. All items at auction are “from the vault” – ones that were reserved for personal use or set aside for future appreciation.
Everything in the collection is original and hand-made. Most items are crafted of solid silver – either sterling or coin silver, embellished with gem-quality turquoise stones and elaborate hand-cut bezels. The majority were crafted by talented artists; many are maker-stamped. Some are vintage ceremonial pieces; other contemporary pieces feature gold enhancements. Many are museum-quality items. None of the pieces have color-enhanced stones, or are plated with silver or nickel. Overall, the owner’s quest was to obtain top-quality items that were out of the ordinary – the finest examples of handwork they could find.