Antique Vintage Native Nickel Silver Navajo Pawn Morenci Turquoise Money Clip

Description

We have similar Navajo and Turquoise items, which would pair nicely with this piece, for sale this week. To view in separate listings, please visit our store and search "Navajo" or "Turquoise" under our Buy-It-Now items.
Listing Description by: Dylan L.
The Piece
Age Circa:
Antique Native Navajo C. 1960
Markings:
Unmarked, Tested, and Guaranteed
Country of Origin:
United States - Navajo Nation
Brand:
Unknown
Gram Weight:
21.7 Grams
Metal Type:
Nickel Silver
Material:
--
Main Stone:
Morenci Turquoise
Main Stone Measurements/Color:
Measures 10.3 mm long by 14 mm wide, Opaque bright  blue hue with black striations
Accent Stone:
--
Accent Stone Measurements/Color:
--
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:
Oval Cabochon Cut Turquoise
Item Measurements:
The money clip measures 1"
long by 2.05" wide. There is a space measuring around 4.1 mm wide, and can expand ever so slightly further, into which money can be inserted into the money clip.
Collectible Type:
Money Clip
Men's or Women's:
Unisex
Notable Features:
This unisex money clip was handmade by a Navajo artisan and features two large Morenci  turquoise stone.
The turquoise stones are held in place using sawtooth bezel settings.
There are applied swirl motifs expanding outwards from the turquoise stone, along with applied spheres.
Damage:
Age appropriate wear. The nickel silver is tarnished in the low relief portions, as well as the areas to which the bear claws were applied. The price of this item has been reduced to reflect this.
*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.
The Navajo Nation sits on 27,000 square miles within the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The Navajo have a rich history and culture and have become known for creating some of the finest sterling silver and turquoise jewelry, incorporating their own traditional motifs with silversmithing. The squash blossom necklace is perhaps one the most famous Navajo styles produced, along with turquoise inlay rings. Turquoise is an important stone in Navajo culture; symbolizing happiness, good fortune, and good health. The first Navajo silversmith, Atsidi Sani, was taught around 1865 by a Mexican silversmith. Atsidi Sani in turn taught his four sons, who then started teaching other Navajo artisans. In the beginning, Navajo artisans created sterling silver jewelry for themselves and others in the Navajo Nation. After 1900, with the tourist trade started booming in the Southwest, and Navajo artisans started commercially producing silver and turquoise jewelry and selling it through the various trading posts.
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 Natives to go and exchange food, tools, and other materials with Colonists at. 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.
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:
Auction Items:
Base shipping + .00 per additional gold item & BIN items combine for free
BIN Items:
FREE
Base Shipping:
USPS
First Class
: .00 fully insured, estimated 3-5 business days
USPS
Priority Mail
: .00 fully insured, estimated 2-3 business days
USPS
Priority Express
: .00 fully insured, overnight delivery
International
: All packages are sent via USPS and pricing is based on buyer location. Each customer will receive a revised invoice at the close of the auction with an updated shipping rate. We will combine shipping on multiple purchases for free.
We do not undervalue packages for customs, please do not ask us
to do so. What you pay is what we will claim on your customs form.
Please take this into consideration before placing your bid.
PayPal only. After 4 days of non-payment, an automated unpaid item case will be opened by our eBay system. If you need extra time for payment, please contact us prior to bidding.