Hello Paula,
I bought this enormous butterfly necklace through a friend of mine in Arizona over twenty five years ago. I paid three hundred dollars for it at the time. I can not find any Hallmarks nor can I find anything comparable on the internet. I was told it was a ceremonial type necklace for the Butterfly Clan. I think the workmanship is a poor quality and may be old pawn jewelry. Can you help me identify and value this piece?
I think I bought this necklace from an indian artist I used to know many years ago. He often introduced me to other artists and I usually would purchase some wonderful art work. This butterfly necklace was something dear to my heart and I enjoyed it for many years but in the last fifteen years or so it just sat in a box. I would like to know more about it if that’s possible. I couldn’t find any marks or signatures. I tried to keep it clean many years ago but haven’t done much in over ten years. It has gotten quite dark. Is it better that I not try to clean it? How do you recommend I store it so it won’t get any blacker?
I hope these pics are okay. I have some more if you like.
Val
Hi Val,
You have a unique piece with beautiful stones. You have a number of questions:
Tribal affiliation
Legend, use, significance
Materials
Value
Care
I’ll start with the quick ones to answer.
Value. We don’t appraise from photos. If interested in selling, here is article on that
Do We Buy Used Native American Jewelry? Updated 2014
Materials. It would seem that it would be made from nickel silver or coin silver. You can read all about silver here.
Jewelry Silver – Not All Silver is Created Equal
It seems to be hinged, has a hand made chain and lovely set turquoise stones in smooth bezels and I would agree that it looks like it is from 1960-70.
Turquoise – Identifying turquoise from photos is difficult at best. First there is the type of lighting where the photo is taken, the setting on the camera, the camera itself. Then there are the computer monitor settings that vary widely. Morenci turquoise is a blue turquoise with iron pyrite (fool’s gold) in it. Here are a couple of examples of Morenci turquoise:
The Morenci mine is a copper mine that is still fully operational but the turquoise portion had been closed (and buried under rock) for a number of years.
Care – It looks great for a vintage piece. I’d keep on doing what you are doing as far as storage. If it is tarnishing, you could wrap it in anti-tarnish cloth which you can purchase by the yard on the internet or at a sewing store.
Tribal affiliation. You mention Butterfly Clan but I doubt this is Hopi. I’m not familiar with Tau. I would guess Navajo made. Here are some examples of typical butterfly motifs and their tribal affiliations.

Hopi Butterfly pendant by Kevin Takala. Note the textured background and silver overlay, typical of Hopi jewelry.
As far as significance or ceremonial use, that is always best obtained from the person who made it or it was purchased from. Each Native American tribe ascribes their own legends and stories to the butterfly. Butterfly attributes can range everywhere from beauty and transformation to vanity to untrustworthy trickster.
Here is an example of the butterfly hairdo on an unmarried Hopi woman.
To read some of the legends, I suggest a google search something like “Navajo Butterfly Legend” and a similar one for Hopi and Zuni.
Paula
Paula covered everything very well, as usual. I personally think it’s a lovely piece, probably Navajo, confirming her impression. The silver should be tested. Nickel Silver isn’t silver and has less value. Coin silver is almost the same grade as Sterling, at .900 versus .925. It’s easy to test it really and worthwhile because that will influence the value. It’s certainly a rare piece and fun to have.
Hi Linda!
Thank you.
Yes, she sure should have it tested if it hasn’t already been by the dealer she mentioned.
I agree – a very unique piece of history !
Paula
Thank you so much Paula. I appreciate all your comments. I truly appreciate my butterfly even more. I look forward to reading many more of your answers about this so special jewelry.
Val
I’m glad you enjoyed the article and thanks for writing. Paula
My heart leapt when I saw this stunning piece. ( The LARGE Silver and Turquoise Butterfly Necklace) And, yes a few. tears. My Grandfather had purchased one ALMOST identical for my Mother . My mother had her car broken into one night in London, Ontario and it along with other items disappeared. (We were moving and she had put some personal items in the car, as we were leaving VERY early in the morning) My Mother died less then a year later at the age of 32.
Thankyou so much for sharing this BEAUTIFUL photo.. It brought back wonderful memories.
So glad you made a connection and thank you for your heart felt story. Paula