Squash Blossom Necklace with Stamped Beads & Killer Turquoise

Attributed to the hand of Maggie Bitsui through design and decorative stamps, the spheres for beads and blossom bodies were solder joined from two die-formed halves.  These pieces were stamp decoratived prior to forming and only the beads were pierced before joining.  Petals were cut from heavy sheet and stamped, rolled in a cone form and attached to the blossom body at about the same time triangular sheet bales were soldered to each top.  Petals were pulled out and shaped afterwards. These are all "old style".  

Her naja is triple crescent, framed on the outside and inside with tri-wire, filled with a rope twist of round wire.These arcs are joined and supported at their crest by a hammered ingot silver strip, folded over at its top to create a bale and flattened at the bottom (naja center) to form the base for a smooth bezel. in which has been set a single superb Blue Gem turquoise stone.  Fluted buttons finish the terminal junctions.

Active from the 1930's forward, Bitsui (also Bitsuie) was known for silver stampwork on her beads. The step-daughter of Charlie Bitsui her work was in the C.G. Wallace condition.

Maggie is referenced in Gregory Schaaf's book American Indian Jewelry I 1,200 Artist Biographies.