Beautiful rare vintage Zuni multi stone inlay owl squash necklace. The necklace displays ten (10) multi stone inlaid owls and with the eleventh (11) owl being mounted in the center of the naja. The artists have used the yellow-brown-black parts of tortoise shells from the desert tortoise which was banned in early 1970's due to both the desert tortoise and the hawksbill sea turtle being placed on the endangered species list. Anything sold as new tortoise shell jewelry and accessories is a man made material.

Anyway, back to the necklace. The artist also uses turquoise, coral, jet, and mother of pearl to create each owl along with the flower and side decoration on the naja. All silver channel flush inlaid with twisted wire and smooth wire used to made the feet of the owl's. The naja consists of a "C" shaped heavy gauge half round wire set into a sheet silver clip. It has a single owl inside the naja with six (6) oblong rectangular settings and a partial flower at top. The artist also makes and uses one hundred forty four (144) sterling seamed 7-8 mm silver beads strung on nylon coated beading wire with handmade shepherds hook-n-clasp.

The necklace measures 28 1/2" long end to end with a wearable length of 16" measured from clasp to bottom of naja. Each owl measures approximately 1 1/2" by 1" wide with the full naja measuring 2 3/4" by 2 1/2" across. It weighs 125.9 grams (4.44 oz or 4.05 ozt) and is unsigned sterling silver. I attribute the necklace to an early creation by Zuni husband and wife Blake Sr and Velma Lesansee who began producing in 1957. Beautiful, rare, and colorful collector's Zuni owl necklace in "like new" condition!  $1599.95