Vintage Navajo 60-strand Mediterranean Coral, sterling bench bead necklace 19.5" For Sale

RARE Vintage Navajo 60-Strand Mediterranean CoralNecklace 19.5"
This is a beautiful old necklace, likely from the 60s or 70s. It was in my mother's stash from her store that opened in 70s and closed in the early 80s. She never wore it. She just took the best of the pieces she owned and put them in a large jewelry filing cabinet hidden in a closet. I was aware of almost all of her purchases from the mid- to late 70s onward. She must have purchased this during her early years, when she would take annual trips throughout the Navajo Nation on buying trips. It has handmade bench beads and 60 strands of very tiny Mediterranean coral beads. Interestingly, there is one black bead and one white bead hidden in the strands. I did find the following information on this:

In a Navajo coral necklace, the inclusion of black and whitebeads—often alongside coral and turquoise—symbolizes the balance of opposingforces, protection, and deep spiritual connection. These beads are frequentlyused as "spacer" beads (or "giving beads") that representthe dual nature of the world.

• White Beads (Shell/White Buffalo): Typically represent purity, light, life, and the sky. They can also represent "thought" or the East in traditional Navajo cosmology.
• Black Beads (Onyx/Jet/Juniper): Often symbolize protection, the night, the earth, and the warding off of negative energy or malevolent spirits (known as chindi).

Significance of the Combination:

• Balance and Harmony: The combination represents the harmony between opposites: light and dark, life and death, and the physical and spiritual worlds.
• Protection and Prayer: The beads are believed to protect the wearer, providing a shield against nightmares and negative energy.
• Cultural Significance: When combined with red coral (representing fire/blood/energy) and blue turquoise (water/sky/sky spirits), the necklace embodies the sacred elements of nature.
• "Giving" or "Closing" Beads: Sometimes, a single, different-colored bead is added to the back of the necklace as a "giving bead" or signature, representing the artist's personal touch and spiritual protection

If you buy more than one pair with $6 shipping and I canship them together, I will refund you for each additional $6 charges you.

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I try to take photos that are as true to the actual color aswe can.Keep in mind, every monitor shows colors differently.Weattempt to depict any defects in the description. However, the pictures are tobe considered the majority of the description.

I identify stones to the best of my ability.Turquoisemay or may not be treated. If I know it is treated or block turquoise, coral,or opal, I will state so. Understand, I am not an expert. I can only base it onwhy my dad taught me when he repaired jewelry.I test stones with the hotneedle test, and if silver isn't marked as sterling or 925, I will test it witha magnet and ice.

I do my best to document my items accurately. The onlyreason we will accept a return is if I accidentally misrepresent an item. (I amhuman.) Please contact me prior to leaving response should this be thecase. I believe that customers deserve a more personalized buying experience ata great value, and my response demonstrates that.This is my #1priority.

If there is a hallmark, I will do my best to identify theartist.

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