Gift courtesy of Mrs. Freda Hambrick
Around 1880, silver necklaces made by the Navajo consisted of plain beads hung with a pendant in “naja” form. Early necklaces have the largest beads placed in the middle of the strand. Like the pendant, graduation of the beads serves to define the center, both visually and by weight. Each bead is fashioned from two pieces of domed silver, made by hammering on a wooden mold with a smooth round punch. The halves are soldered together and the bead is then buffed and polished.
