This darkly handsome naja and 20 blossom necklace is the impressive work of Roger Skeet Sr., a Navajo artist whose distinctive creations were among the favorites of Trader C.G. Wallace and his customers.
Made of ingot and Morgan dollar silver, this substantial piece displays simply and beautifully the design focused primarily on form. Hand-stamped decoration was used sparingly on the massive naja and filed fronts and tops of the pierced squash blossom tabs.
An earlier piece than the one pictured as lot #974 of the C.G. Wallace collection auction catalogue, it is without turquoise like most of the very first Pueblo silver naja and blossom necklaces created in the later 1800's. Indeed, anything more would not improve the strength or dramatic artistry of this magnificent work.
Description | This darkly handsome naja and 20 blossom necklace is the impressive work of Roger Skeet Sr., a Navajo artist whose distinctive creations were among the favorites of Trader C.G. Wallace and his customers. Made of ingot and Morgan dollar silver, this substantial piece displays simply and beautifully the design focused primarily on form. Hand-stamped decoration was used sparingly on the massive naja and filed fronts and tops of the pierced squash blossom tabs. An earlier piece than the one pictured as lot #974 of the C.G. Wallace collection auction catalogue, it is without turquoise like most of the very first Pueblo silver naja and blossom necklaces created in the later 1800's. Indeed, anything more would not improve the strength or dramatic artistry of this magnificent work. |
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About the Artist | (1900-1959) Roger Skeet Sr. was a Navajo silversmith from Vanderwagen, New Mexico whos name is frequently associated with C.G. Wallace, Tobe Turpen as well as the Tanner family. His distinctive stampwork was deliberately applied with utter eveness and depth. |
Medium | Sterling silver and coin silver |
Troy ounces | 9.91 troy ounces |
Size | Necklace is 30" in length. Naja with large bale bead measures 3 3/4" height X 3" width. Blossoms are 1 5/8" length X 5/8" width. Beads are 1/2" in diameter to 5/8" diameter. |
Signed | No artist hallmarks. Trader mark on back of Naja EXXX |
Date of creation | 1930's or earlier |
Condition | Excellent |
Description | Sterling and coil silver ingot have been mill rolled into sheet and drawn into wire--some of which has been swedged to form a triangular or three-sided wire used for the naja crescent and a chisel edge to score the decorative curves inside and scrolls on top of the naja. The pierced tab attached to each of the 20 blossoms is file scored on the top and front facing edges. |
Provenance | Lyn Fe |
Gram weight | 308.4 grams |