Necklace c. 20th century

This necklace was made by a Navajo (Diné) artist, and well, let's imagine them making it. Think of the hours spent stringing these tiny beads, layering strands of white, turquoise, and coral, and then the long, swaying tassel, like a fringe of secrets. The artist, sitting perhaps outside, letting the sun play on the stones, each one held, considered, placed. It's like a slow painting, building color and texture, not with a brush but with fingertips and thread. Each bead is a tiny mark. The artist creates rhythm through repetition and variation, a quiet hum that resonates as you look at it. It's like a conversation with the materials themselves, listening to what they want to be. This necklace isn't just adornment, it's a meditation, a story whispered in stone and shell, connecting the wearer to the land and the maker.