Blossoming

I was impressed to learn the history of the squash blossom necklace and how it became what it is today. It should be noted that it is riddled with shared cultural symbolism spanning centuries across multiple civilizations.

This is one of the reasons the squash blossom necklace is so compelling within the collection. It embodies a remarkable journey of ideas across continents and millennia.

It began as a protective crescent that appeared in the ancient world and was reinterpreted by different civilizations until Navajo artists transformed it into something unmistakably their own. It reflects layers of cultural history, with each culture adding new meaning rather than simply passing along an unchanged symbol.

This is his interpretation and transformation of those ancient symbols. Its creation spanned nearly 28 years until its completion. He pulled the turquoise from the earth himself. He carved the lapis and polished the carnelian. He then smithed the beads and brought the entire piece together.

This is one of the pieces of jewelry he was most proud of, and I can see why. He incorporated his own meanings and symbols, just as those before him had done. It started as a seed in the ground. Through his care, his vision, and his constant attention, it blossomed into one of the most beautiful flowers in our garden.