Necklace c. 1970

Editor: Here we have a silver and metal necklace, possibly a squash blossom style, from around 1970. The beads and pendant seem quite weighty. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: The making of this necklace interests me. The labour involved in shaping each individual silver element, each bead and blossom, points to a specific artisanal process deeply embedded within a socio-economic context. Think about where the silver was sourced, the tools used, and the skills passed down. Editor: That’s fascinating! So, beyond just admiring the finished product, you’re focusing on its production? Curator: Exactly. Considering the materials, silver for instance, brings forth questions of extraction, trade routes, and even colonialism, which deeply impacted indigenous craftsmanship and the availability of materials like silver. Is this a traditional design being produced for local use, or perhaps for a burgeoning tourist market? Editor: I see. So the context influences our understanding. It almost becomes a commentary on labor and culture itself! Curator: Precisely. Each element whispers of trade, cultural exchange, and the adaptation of tradition within a changing world. Examining the materiality allows us to see beyond just an aesthetic object and explore the larger web of social and economic relationships that gave it form. It asks: who profits, and who preserves? Editor: I never thought about jewelry in that way! Curator: Reflect on how something deemed “decorative” carries so much weight in understanding our history of labor, consumption, and cultural production. Editor: Thanks for shifting my perspective today!