Up for your consideration is this fabulous vintage Native American handmade silver & multi gem inlaid squash blossom necklace. The necklace comes from a private estate collection. I believe this set was made by Blake & Velma Lesansee, but it is not hallmarked. The necklace is unmarked and unsigned, but it tests positive for coin silver or better. According to the previous owner, it is inlaid with tortoise shell (which is no longer allowed to be used in jewelry).
This is a beautiful example of the work of the world renowned husband-and-wife team of Blake and Velma Lesansee. The couple began working together in the mid-1950s.
The necklace is double stranded with handmade silver beads with 12 inlaid owls (six on each side), and a large inlaid naja with two owls in the center. Matching clip-on owl earrings.
* 24 long from end to end
* 14 hang from the back of the neck to the bottom of the naja
* Naja: 2-5/8 wide by 2-3/8 tall
* Matching Clip-on style earrings included.
Excellent condition. The silver has a nice warm vintage patina. Most folks prefer the vintage look, but we will include a silver polishing cloth, in case you want to polish the necklace to a sparkling silver finish.
There are pictures of this couple's work in Bassman, Theda. "Zuni Jewelry"
, 1992, p. 25. Also in Bell, Ed and Barbara. "Zuni: The Art and the People Vol.3" 1977, p. 4-5.