This “over the top” Squash Blossom necklace by Kirk Smith is remarkable. Using Variscite and Sugilite stones in a break from tradition, he brought tradition back into focus with his sterling treatment. His extensive use of repousse elements on this piece speaks to the dedication of Smith to honor traditional Navajo design in a very powerful way; each repousse element is specifically handcrafted for the individual stone. The stones Smith designed the piece around are fantastic—the Variscite is all beautifully matrixed and vibrant in color, and the Sugalite is equally as brilliant, with amazing dark striations. All the stones are set in flat bezel with coiled wire accents. The naja measures 5” across and 4.25” high. The blossoms graduate in length from 2.5” to 2 1/8”. The necklace is 27” around including the clasp (the only thing on the necklace that isn’t handcrafted). There are 150 hand made sterling beads measuring 3/8” in diameter and the necklace weighs a whopping 10 ounces. The necklace’s construction is sturdy and exacting and Smith used the old technique of attaching the blossoms to the chain via a sterling panel. Smith has received numerous awards for his work and has a strong collector base. It’s fully hallmarked, stamped sterling and in pristine condition. Larger images available on request. The images in the video are somewhat larger as well.
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