American Museum of Art/Portrait Gallery
The exhibition for jewelry at the Smithsonian American Art Museum displayed extraordinary pieces that really caught the eye. There were 6 pieces that attracted my attention the most and one was the Squash Blossom Earrings. The earrings were sterling silver and Carico Lake turquoise. Carico Lake turquoise is dense in zinc, which produces its unique bright green color. It was named for the string of flared “squash blossom” beads and the centerpiece called the maja (pronounced “naahdja”) meaning “crescent” in Navajo. The origin of the name is uncertain, because the beads do not actually look like squash blossoms, but the necklace itself, that matches, has become well known in Navajo silversmithing history. The Squash Blossom earrings form dates back to the late sixteenth century, when Spain began colonizing the Four Corners region of the United States.
The second piece of jewelry that caught my attention was the Squash Blossom......
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