Necklace c. 1940

This beautiful necklace was made by an A'shiwi artist, also known as Zuni. Look at how they combined silver and turquoise, transforming these materials into something precious! I imagine the artist carefully selecting each stone, considering its unique color and shape. Turquoise is such a hopeful, dreamy color. Then setting each one with intention. They are not just arranging but building up form, creating depth and rhythm. It's like composing a visual poem. The way the artist repeated the floral motifs, creating this intricate pattern, makes me think about how artists, even across different mediums, are always in conversation with one another. Whether they realize it or not. This necklace makes me want to create patterns, maybe in fabric, maybe in a painting, inspired by its delicate strength.