EARLY "OLD PAWN" AMERICAN SOUTHWEST (NAVAJO) BAR with Six Vivid Natural Untreated Turquoise

EARLY "OLD PAWN" AMERICAN SOUTHWEST (NAVAJO) BAR ORNAMENT WITH SIX VIVID NATURAL TURQUOISE OVALS

a rare example of early Navajo work, possibly made as a woman's manta ornament (for traditional woven blanket garment)

Circa : 1890's - 1930's, early hand-forged silver, heavy and hand-formed throughout

Six Turquoise oval cabochons, proportions varying, sizes 3/8 "long x 1/4" wide to a the smallest a little over 1/4" long, natural intense to vivid color and matrix variations as typical with valued early material, each in hand-formed silver collar.

Applied twisted silver wire in three lobe "crown" atop largest turquoise, and encircling the entire series of turquoise gems;
Pulled wire is applied in a border of loops all around.

Verso with two copper rings, apparently for attachment to a garment by the original owner; the top one now has a silver oval pendant ring added

Name of maker or early owner scratched faintly on back : "Helen ..."

Overall Length : 4" x 3/4" wide

Gross wt : 1.2 troy ounce

Provenance : according to the owner, purchased 1962 "at the side of the road in the Southwest"
# wlz 18021 ......................................................................................................... SOLD