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Navajo Red Branch Coral Bead Sterling Necklace

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:250.00 - 500.00 USD
Navajo Red Branch Coral Bead Sterling Necklace
Included in this lot is a Red Branch Coral Bead Four Strand Sterling Silver Necklace. This stunning necklace displays branch four strands of red branch coral barrel beads with sterling silver beads placed throughout the necklace. There is one sterling blossom pendant on one side of the necklace, and two cones separating the beads from the clasp. Coral's red color has important symbolic meaning in the Native American culture. It represents, for example, heat or fire, representing the spirit within, energy, and power. Native Americans have only had contact with it since the arrival of the Europeans into the New World. Prior to the arrival of the Spanish to the Americas, Indians used argillite to accent their jewelry and clothing with red. Having a red very dull compared to that of Blood Coral, the Indians were quick to substitute the argillite for coral, once it became available. Navajo, Hopi and other Native American Puebloan villages readily adapted their skills to grind, cut, and drill this coral, by hand, into beads for their jewelry-making and for beading clothing and other items. By the late 19th Century, the Indians of the Hopi Pueblo wore coral during their snake dances. This necklace includes an adjustable silver clasp chain. The necklace is in good overall condition, showing some patina to the silver, no obvious marring noted. The necklace measures 14.5"L clasped. Collective total weight is 98.3g.