Necklace c. 1940s

This Navajo necklace, made with silver and turquoise, is a testament to the beauty found in repetition and careful craftsmanship. Each tiny silver bead and turquoise droplet feels deliberately placed, marking time through a meditative process. Look closely at the surface. The silver, with its gentle sheen, has a tactile quality that invites touch. The turquoise stones, each one unique, interrupt the silver with their vibrant blue. These pops of color remind me of Joan Miró's paintings, where unexpected shapes and hues disrupt a more formal composition. The necklace culminates in a naja, a crescent shape pendant. This form, seen in many Navajo necklaces, is like a formal full stop at the bottom, creating a focal point from the ordered elements above. It’s as if the whole piece breathes in and out around this central motif. The interplay between the rigid structure and the organic variation within each element creates a visual rhythm that’s both grounding and uplifting. It’s a reminder that art, whether on a canvas or around a neck, thrives in the space between intention and improvisation.