This fork is part of a set with a matching spoon, which we also have for sale this week. Item Description by: Cait P. Markings: “Sterling” on the back of the handle, Tested, and Guaranteed. Country of Origin: United States – Navajo Nation. Gram Weight: 15.4 Grams. Main Stone Measurements/Color: 6.05 mm long, 4.65 mm wide, Opaque blue hue. Accent Stone Measurements/Color. Stone Treatment: The stone(s) appear to be untreated, but we are not certified gemologists. Stone(s) have been tested and guaranteed using a professional Presidium Duo refractive, heat, and hardness tester. Stone Cuts: Carved and Polished Cabochon. Item Measurements: The spoon measures 4.15″ long and 0.95″ wide. Men’s or Women’s: Unisex. Handmade in the 1950s by a talented Navajo artisan. The handle of the fork features a turquoise stone in a sawtooth bezel and hand stamped patterns. Damage: Age appropriate wear. Tarnish on the sterling silver gives this piece an antique quality which we believe is quite lovely. This listing is for the item only. This beautiful piece was made by a very talented Native American silversmith. It features handcrafted silversmith work throughout. Antique Native American jewelry is very rare to find. This is due to these pieces being made for reservation and personal use before the tourist trade became popular. Very few pieces were made and even less survived to today. The concept of Pawn, Old Pawn, and Dead Pawn Native American Jewelry came to be in the 1800s. When a loan wasnt repaid, the item became known as either Old Pawn or Dead Pawn. The Navajo Nation sits on 27,000 square miles within the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The Navajo have a rich history and culture and have become known for creating some of the finest sterling silver and turquoise jewelry, incorporating their own traditional motifs with silversmithing. The squash blossom necklace is perhaps one the most famous Navajo styles produced, along with turquoise inlay rings. Turquoise is an important stone in Navajo culture; symbolizing happiness, good fortune, and good health. The first Navajo silversmith, Atsidi Sani, was taught around 1865 by a Mexican silversmith. Atsidi Sani, in turn, taught his four sons, who then started teaching other Navajo artisans. In the beginning, Navajo artisans created sterling silver jewelry for themselves and others in the Navajo Nation. Navajo silversmiths, working from 1870 to 1900, learned about stamping from Mexican leather workers, and adopted this to their metal working. Artisans made their own stamps that were passed down to each generation. Stampings are usually hand hammered using handcrafted or die stamps and include traditional Native American symbols, such as sunbursts, to ornate landscapes. This technique has been passed on and utilized by other Native American tribes and continues to be a popular method of jewelry making. Turquoise is found all over the world and has been a popular semi-precious stone used in jewelry and art for thousands of years by many different cultures; from prehistoric times to the present. Turquoise comes in many beautiful color variations; from the popular bright solid sky-blue hues to dark blue hues with dark spiderwebbing throughout, as well as aqua, teal, and many green varieties, and even some rare white with dark spiderwebbing. The item “Antique Vintage Sterling 925 Silver Native Navajo Turquoise Hand Stamped Fork” is in sale since Sunday, July 21, 2019. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\Native American\ US\1935-Now\Other Nat. Am. Items 1935-Now”. The seller is “abeautifultimeco” and is located in Fort Collins, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Main Ston: Turquoise
• Handmade: Yes
• Modified Item: No
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
• Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
• Metal: Sterling Silver
• Metal Purity: .925