Necklace c. 1930s

Curator: Immediately, I’m struck by a sense of potent elegance. There's something both sturdy and delicate about this. Editor: That's an apt description! We are looking at a Squash Blossom Necklace, crafted in the 1930s, attributed to the Navajo, or Diné, people. The primary material is silver. This exquisite piece is now part of the collection at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Curator: Squash blossom... fitting! The round silver beads cascading down feel ripe, somehow. Like a harvest moon hanging low in the sky. Editor: It’s more than just an aesthetic comparison, though. The necklace does evoke cycles of life. Traditionally, the squash blossom necklaces represent prosperity and abundance, often worn during important ceremonies. Silverworking became central to the Diné economy and cultural expression during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Curator: The details, especially the little blossom elements shooting out from each bead, are just exquisite. Like miniature silver fireworks! And then, the central pendant, that "naja," with its delicate turquoise glint. It’s really arresting. Is the turquoise part of the symbolism too? Editor: The "naja" predates Diné silverwork; it was incorporated from Spanish colonial culture but then was reimagined. In Diné belief, turquoise often signifies protection and wellbeing, and might have been used to reflect that. What I find striking is how the piece mediates between cultural exchange and cultural continuity. It marks the complicated intersections of Indigenous artistry adapting to outside influences, but retaining core beliefs. Curator: Thinking about it now, it does embody a form of resilience. It’s more than a piece of jewelry; it feels like a statement. Editor: Precisely! The silversmith has shaped not just the material, but its cultural context. A narrative captured in silver. Curator: I will not be able to wear any common necklace any time soon after contemplating that beauty. Editor: It's given me a deeper appreciation of how an adornment carries echoes of history and embodies enduring strength.