Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Zuni Turquoise Inlay Bear Charm Pendant

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Antique Vintage Sterling Silver Native Zuni Turquoise Inlay Bear Charm Pendant:
$32.00

We have similar Native Turquoise items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search \"Native\" or \"Turquoise\" under our Buy-It-Now Items.
The Piece
Age Circa: Antique Native Zuni
Markings: Unmarked,Tested, and Guaranteed
Country of Origin: United States, ZuniNation
Brand: Unknown
Gram Weight: 2.4Grams
Metal Type: .925Sterling Silver
Material: --
Main Stone: Turquoise
Main Stone Measurements/Color: Inlaid;Bright blue hue with internal spiderweb matrix of black, Bright sky blue and Light green.
Accent Stone: Sugilite, Sodalite
Accent Stone Measurements/Color: Inlaid; Bright blue hue, Intense purple 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: Inlaid
Item Measurements: The pendant measures 0.8\" long and 0.63\" wide.
Closure/Clasp Type: Jump Ring
Link Type: --
Pendant Type: Charm
Notable Features: This necklace was handmade during by with Zuni craftsmanship and design.Composed of .925 sterling silver and stone inlay, this charm pendant was handcrafted by a skilled Zunisilversmith in the American Southwest. The artisan would have hand-hammered the sterling silver, carved the stones and every aspect of the piece would have been handmade. The pendant is in the shape of a bear, with the stones inlaid. The body of the bear is made of blue turquoise with a spiderweb matrix, bright blue turquoise, light green turquoise, sugilite, and sodalite. These stones combine in a colorful inlaid design which creates a lovely piece.
The shiny tone of the silver perfectly complements the stones, drawing attention to their vivid hue. There is a silver arrow detail on the back of the bear\'s body adding depth and dimension to the simple and elegant piece.Due to its size, this piece can be worn as a bracelet charm or necklace pendant, adding versatility to the amazing piece.An exquisite example of Zuni jewelry, this charm pendant would make a valuable addition to any antique jewelry collection or make a wonderful gift. Don\'t miss your chance to preserve this amazing piece of American history.
Damage: Age appropriate wear.
*This listing is for the item only. All display boxes and/or photography props do not come with your purchase.*The History
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.
Zuni jewelry is very distinct from other Native American tribes; it most notably features gorgeous inlay designs, as well as petit point and needlepoint stonework. These highly detailed techniques, combined with exceptional metal work, makes the Zuni tribe one of the best-known jewelry making tribes in the world.
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.The concept of Pawn, Old Pawn, and Dead Pawn Native American Jewelry came to be in the 1800s. During this time, trading posts had become commonplace for Native Americans to go and exchange food, tools, and other materials with Colonists. Essentially, banks would loan the shop owners money which was then invested into loans for Native Americans in exchange for their jewelry. When a loan wasn’t repaid, the item became known as either “Old Pawn” or “Dead Pawn.”
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.
Sodalite is a rich blue ornamental mineral originally discovered in Greenland during the early 1800s and is named for its high sodium content. Sodalite is usually opaque and comes in all shades of blue, often with speckles or veins of white. Similar in color to lapis lazuli, uniformly royal blue sodalite is usually used as cabochons or beads. Sodalite can also be found in grey, yellow, green, or pink.

Domestic US: All items ship within one business day of receiving payment. Buyers will have 3 base shipping options to choose from, depending on the needed speed of delivery. Pricing on single and multi-purchase transactions can be seen below:

sale Items:Base shipping + $1.00 per additional gold item & BIN items combine for free

BIN Items:FREE

Base Shipping:

USPSFirst Class: $8.00 fully insured, estimated 3-5 business days
USPSPriority Mail: $12.00 fully insured, estimated 2-3 business days
USPSPriority Express: $25.00 fully insured, overnight delivery

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