SHOW & TELL #18 - Squash Bloosom Neckless & Earrings

Friday AGAIN - which for Penless Writer means SHOW and TELL. You know the routine. Post your show and tell. Then go over to the host, Kelli at There Is No Place Like Home and sign up on Mr. Linky. Then go look at all the other wonderful Show and Tell items posted by others, AND be sure to leave a comment.

(click to enlarge for better picture & detail)

My Show and Tell for this week is my Squash Bloosom Neckless and Earrings.

This is Zuni Indian jewelry. You can always tell if it's Zuni by the very small, matched turquoise stones.

This neckless is at least 60 years old. It belonged to my mother and she wore it often. It was bought for her by my father. My father, mother & I were visiting the reservation and my father literally bought it off the neck of the Indian woman wearing it. I wish I could remember what he paid for it, but as a child those details are not of interest to you!!!

My mother gave it to me about 10 years prior to her death in 1986. She said she wanted the joy of seeing me wearing it while she was here to see it.

The neckless was originally strung on cat gut. (Sorry, but that's how they did it back then!). When I got it I took it to my jeweler and had it restrung. Because of it's age I was afraid it might break. With all the small pieces, if it broke, it would be easy to lose a piece.

The earring, when my mother wore it, were the old screw on type. Since my ears are pierced I had the jeweler remove the screws and convert it for my pieced ears.

I always get many compliments when ever I wear this neckless. It looks best wore on a solid dark color so the silver and turquoise show up well.

I never wear it but what I think of my wonderful parents. This is just one token of the wonderful heritage I have from them.