Foxtail, Chain and more………..

 

Stamped, graduated sterling silver bead necklace by Larry Pinto

We often get questions from customers about how sterling silver Navajo beads are strung. The same information applies to Squash Blossom Necklaces.

Some very old necklaces might be strung on string or waxed cord. Because of the movement of the beads on the string, the string can become worn, thin and break. Often, such a necklace would have to be restrung.

Most silver beads are strung on chain or foxtail and sometimes snake chain. It is a matter of personal preference of the artist.

Chain has a very open weave (light density), making it very easy to add a jump ring or fastener on the end. It is often used to string Navajo Pearls.

Chain

Foxtail, sometimes called wheat chain, has a medium density yet loose weave. This makes it possible to organize the ends and attach a ring or finisher. And it also results in a stronger, smoother track for the beads to slide on.

Foxtail

For instructions on how to string with foxtail and finish the ends see the photo below and also see the tips on RioGrande

Snake chain which has a very tight weave is sometimes used for stringing sterling silver beads but because of the added step of clamping to finish the ends, foxtail is usually preferred over snake.

Snake chain

Stamped, graduated sterling silver beads by Jeffrey Nelson.

Paula

 

Restringing a Squash Blossom Necklace

When this arrived in a recent estate lot, I went eeek ! and then promptly contacted our favorite repair shop. Although we can make minor repairs and alterations here at our store, we leave something like this to a professional that has experience with Native American jewelry.

A jumble of beads and a broken wire – I wonder if everything is here to make a necklace again??!!

The 14 mm handmade beads are stamped on both side and so are the blossoms – quite rare !

As usual Henry did his magic – straightening any bent blossom petals, balancing all the beads beautifully, making a new hook and eye closure….resulting in a treasure of a necklace.

See this related article

Shortening a Squash Blossom Necklace for Paula

Paula

Why do Navajo Pearls have hook and eye closures?

Dear Paula,

My concern is about the hook and eye closures on the silver beads (Navajo Pearls).  Are these secure?  I would think that they could fall off easily and do not understand why they do not come with a lobster claw or more secure closure.  Have most customers been satisfied with this kind of closure or do they tend to lose their jewelry? Is there anything that can be done to make this closure more secure?

Thank you.

MM

Hello MM,

The hook and eye is traditional as the early Navajo artists did not have access to lobster claw clasps or other mechanical style clasps.

I’ve never had a necklace come undone. If you are worried you can squeeze the hook together which will make it more secure but also a little harder to hook.  Once on, I have found hook and eye closures to be quite secure.

You could purchase a necklace extender with a lobster claw clasp. We offer both kinds but the hook and eye extenders sell 8:1 to the lobster claw clasps. It is a matter of tradition and personal preference.

Paula

Can you tell me more about this Sterling Silver Bead Necklace?

Dear Paula,

I am interested in possibly purchasing this necklace to wear with a large silver and copper pendant by Roland Begay that I recently received as a gift:  Navajo Sterling Silver, Stamped Bead Necklace – 8mm 18 inch, 42 grams, #BD789-B hand-crafted by Tashina Long.

 

I live on the east coast and have just begun to educate myself about Native American jewelry.

 

Could you kindly tell me more about Tashina Long the silversmith and her work?

 

Thank you for your time and attention,

Mora

HI Mora,

First of all, it is a beautiful necklace and would make a stunning pendant hanger.

Lily Yazzie Jameson Long is the mother of Tashina Long.  (You’ll also see Lily’s beads in our store).

Lily is the sister of Lee, Raymond, Marie Yazzie James, Lola Yazzie Daw, Shirley Yazzie Johnson, Cindy Yazzie, Mary Yazzie – some of the most celebrated Navajo silversmiths today.  You’ll see beads and jewelry by them in our store.

Tashina is in her twenties and has some children.  The Longs and Yazzies come from a long line of distinguished silversmiths.  Her mother Lily and her sisters taught Tashina to be a silversmith.  She lives north of Gallup as do many in her family.

Paula

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More Heishi Fit Notes – Choosing the Correct Length

When buying heishi necklaces, first you need to know how the artist or seller measures their heishi necklaces.

Many heishi makers sell their heishi by length of material used, so 19″ of turquoise heishi might be sold as 19″ …………but with a hook and eye and the bit of slack incorporated in the necklace to make it hang right, the actual necklace wearing length might be closer to 19 3/4″.

For chokers especially, each of us has a particular length we like to wear that suits our physique and clothing necklines. That’s when measurement become particularly important.

Here at horsekeeping, we measure from the tip of the hook to the eye on the other end. That represents the actual end-to-end wearing length.

This results in most thin to medium heishi fitting well……..

but when you are purchasing very thick heishi, necklaces that are 3/8″ thick or more, you should compensate and purchase a necklace that is 1/4″ to 3/4″ longer than your usual length. That’s because the thicker heishi sits away from your neck so some of the end-to-end length is taken up to make the circle around your neck.

The same principle applies to Navajo Pearls. If you wear an 18″ 4mm silver bead necklace, when buying a 14 mm necklace, you might need almost a 19″ long if you want it to sit in the same place on your neckline.

We provide measurements. The best way to get a good fit is to measure a similar necklace you already have that fits you well and compare it to the measurements indicated for the item.

Here’s to beautiful, well-fitting heishi !

Paula

Hooks on Native American Necklaces

Dear Paula,

I foolishly went to bed last night with my new coral necklace hooked around my neck.

I woke up in the morning and it was gone.

I could have lost it at the shops as I was in and out of bed trying to get to sleep and then we went to the shops late last night, I have searched all the crevices of my room and all places and it is just gone.

That hook they use at the back, I should have bent it shut if I wanted to leave it on, that’s what I do with my other hooks or I should have just taken it off before I go to bed.

What a shame! I scrimped and saved for that necklace and I so loved it, it was one-of a kind vintage!

Please get back to me any advice you do have about those hooks they use, and please help me for next time!

Thanks, Ruby

PS  My adopted Dad just found it! I am so pleased!  It was in between the doorway of my room and the hall way.

I have bent the hook shut, and can take it off over my head when I shower.

Any advice would still be appreciated.

Thanks

Love Ruby

Hi Ruby, Phew !! That’s good news. Yes, bend the hook shut like you did – that’s what most people do who want to take a necklace on and off over their heads. Traditionally the hooks are left open at first because some people have arthritis or other difficulty with their hands and need a big open hook in order to get it fastened.

Usually when a necklace is hanging straight down it won’t come unfastened. I can see where it would come off if you wore it to bed. But like you found, it is easy to squish the hook closed for more security.

Paula

Turquoise Inlay Navajo Pearls

I’ve updated (May 2, 2016) this popular article with better photos and specs.

I received a beautiful set of vintage sterling silver and turquoise Navajo Pearls a number of years ago.  They are:

Sterling silver with turquoise inlay

176 grams

25″ long

Bead are graduated from 12 mm to 22 mm.

This is the first necklace like this I had seen so I asked some friends who have been in the NA jewelry business their whole lives about the necklace and thought I’d share what they said.

STERLING SILVER AND TURQUOISE INLAY NAVAJO PEARLS MADE BY MARTHA WILSON, NAVAJO WITH INLAY DONE BY ROSEMARY WHITE, ZUNI OR NAVAJO

They are inscribed with “MW” on a hallmark disk.

 

I was told the beads were made by in the mid 1970s by Navajo silversmith Martha Wilson and the inlay was done by a Zuni artist, Rosemary White.  Martha Wilson worked out of the Bluewater Lake area.    I have been unable to locate a Zuni artist by the name of Rosemary White but there are several Navajo artists in the White family. Paula

 

Paula

Navajo Pearls – Why are the heavier beads less expensive?

Good morning Paula,

I am interested in your Navajo Pearl necklaces. I was wondering why the Lilian Yazzie 16-10 mm graduated necklace (BD757) costs $345 @68 grams while her 20 inch 9mm necklace @55grams costs over $100 more (priced at $460)?  Lori

Navajo Sterling Silver Beads by Lily Yazzie
Graduated 10mm – 16mm
Stamped; Adjustable; 68 grams; $345

Navajo Sterling Silver Beads by Lily Yazzie
Stamped; 9mm; 20″; 55 grams
$460

Hi Lori,

Good question and not the first time someone has asked.

Our prices are really dictated by what the artist asks for at item and it will be based on WHEN we bought an item.

So some items we purchased 3 years ago will be less expensive than the same or an even “lesser” (weight) item item today based on the silver price.

The only time we raise prices is when we go to replenish our supply of a certain item and the artist has raised their price since the last time we purchased from them.

We like to leave items at their “old prices” so people can find bargains. You’ll see what I mean if you visit either the silver or stone bracelet pages – you will see some bracelets between $100 and $200 that we bought several years ago and we’ve left them at their old price. On the same group page you will see similar bracelets priced over $100 more – those are the ones we bought this year !!

Thanks for the question and I hope you find some Navajo Pearls you like!!

 Paula

Necklace Extenders

Paula,

I love my 17 1/2″ silver bead necklace as a choker but sometimes I want to wear it over a collar or longer with a pendant. Do you have something I can use to make it longer?

Kary

Hi Kary,

We have a few sterling silver necklace extenders. Depending on what kind of necklace you have and how long you want to lengthen it, perhaps one of the following would be helpful.

If you have a bench bead necklace that is approximately 9mm, perhaps something like this 8 bead  extender might work. It is 3 3/4″ long.

An 8 bead 9 mm sterling silver bench bead necklace extender

We also have some chain extenders that would work with any necklace.

Sterling silver chain extender for necklaces

Some necklace come with a chain already on them. But having a separate chain extender allows you to use it with any necklace.

AND what is also very good about using a chain extender like this is that  you can make small adjustments in length to get the necklace (or pendant) to hang at just the right spot.

Antiqued Satin Finish Navajo Pearls are Here – How they are made

When we ran out of our antiqued satin finish Navajo Pearls, many of you requested more but we had a hard time finding someone to make them for us. Finally we got a few more in !!

They are perfectly fine to wear alone whether you’re in jeans or dressed up……AND they also make a great place to hang pendants !

6 mm Antiqued Satin Finish Sterling Silver Beads

These antiqued satin finish beads are made by starting with a bench made sterling silver bead. What is a bench made bead?

Handmade (hand made) beads are entirely hand crafted: cutting, stamping, dapping, drilling, soldering, filing, polishing, stringing is all done by hand. Hand made beads are very labor intensive, therefore much more expensive than bench made beads. Also, when taking the time to make beads by hand, Navajo silversmiths generally use heavy gauge sterling silver, which also adds to the price. Handmade Native American beads are the most cherished and desired by customers. Because each bead is made individually, there might be slight variations from bead to bead.

Bench made Beads (also known as Bench Beads) usually refer to beads that are partially manufactured and partially hand made. Usually the silversmith starts with some machine cut pieces, which are then soldered and strung by hand.

Excerpt from  Everything You Need to Know about Navajo Pearls

A bench made bead has a little ridge around its equator. The bench beads are antiqued, then satin finished and then the ridge on the bead seam is polished. That’s what gives them their characteristic look.

Bench made beads that have been antiqued, satin finished, and edges polished.