This is a vintage pendant and necklace that we purchased at an estate sale in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Made in the traditional "pueblo style" the pendant was hand carved from one large piece of turquoise. The necklace contains 14, handmade, silver bench beads and many hand cut and hand drilled penn shell heishi beads.

The necklace measures 23" long. The pendant is 2" long (including the small bale) and is 1+1/2" wide.

Together they weigh a quite comfortable 30 grams.

The seller at the estate sale told us that the pendant and necklace where made by a Zuni artist during the 1960's. Since there is no hallmark on the pendant, or necklace, we don't know the artist's name.

As with most, vintage, Zuni made jewelry there is no stamp that indicates the silver purity. However, due to the obvious patina, we are quite sure that the silver is sterling.

Despite it's age and travels this wonderful old beauty is still in very good condition. It apparently was very well taken care of by it's previous owner(s) as it shows only very minimal signs of wear.

The silver beads can use some cleaning and polishing but we'll leave that for their next owner. Our policy is that we do not clean vintage jewelry as most collectors prefer to receive these older pieces "as is".